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Dear constituent,
Happy new year!
First, I want to say thank you for electing me in June last year. I am particularly humbled to follow such a distinguished and long–serving MP as Peter Lilley. I, as well as my wife Hetti and our two little boys, have settled in and are loving our new life. Thank you for making us feel so welcome.
I want to give you a snapshot of what I have been up to over the past months. These highlights cover several local issues, which I work on both locally and in Westminster, ranging from housing, education, charity work, small business, scientific research and Luton Airport noise – plus many more.
In 2018, I will keep working across the board, but I want to focus my efforts on: Securing the Future for Hitchin and Harpenden – Schools, Small business, Science and Skills.
Small business
I have attended several meetings with local small businesses across the constituency over the past few months. Most recently, I visited both Hitchin and Harpenden on Small Business Saturday in December and met many of our great independent shopkeepers. We are lucky to have so many independent shops – it’s one of the things that makes both Hitchin and Harpenden fantastic places to live! I'm backing them 100% - and over the coming months I will be pressing central government (both privately and publicly) on many key issues which affect them, ranging from infrastructure, skills, business rates, taxes and many more.
Local charities
We are lucky to live in an area with some fantastic charities. I have become Patron of three local charities – namely Hitchin’s Tilehouse Counselling (which offers counselling services to young people), GRiT (Growing Resilience in Teens – a charity dedicated to combatting self-harm amongst teenagers), and Harpenden Spotlight for Africa (a development, health and education charity working mostly in Uganda). I have worked closely with them on these causes, and have also started working with Phase, a charity based in Hitchin which helps improve the wellbeing and mental health of young people.
Schools and young people
I’m passionate about each person, from whatever background, being able to reach their potential and make the most of their life. It is the fundamental reason why I went into politics. It is why I spend so much of my time with the schools in our constituency, and with young people more broadly. I have been to every secondary school in the constituency, met several staff and students, and talked to them about their hopes, dreams, aspirations and how I can help. I have also been to many of our primary schools and met every Headteacher. I look forward to continuing this close contact and engagement over the coming months and years.
I strongly believe in the potential of good quality apprenticeships to change lives for the better. Not every young person wants to go to university, nor is that always the best route to future success. I have spent much of the autumn working with organisations such as Amazing Apprenticeships (based in Hitchin) on how we build better awareness of apprenticeships and (crucially) get more top quality businesses offer school leavers a chance to work for them, rather than rely solely on graduates.
In 2018 I will be working with government ministers and local schools on how to keep improving educational standards, but to do so in a way that reduces teacher workload, and helps improve the morale and retention of our teachers. I am putting together a specific local plan to improve the recruitment and retention of teachers locally, a plan that aims to start delivering results in the short term.
Schools’ Debating competition – held in Parliament
In November, I hosted a debating competition for secondary school students from all six secondary schools in Hitchin and Harpenden in the Committee Rooms of the Houses of Parliament. It was a great experience for them, as it was for me - the standard of debate was outstanding. Tackling subjects like abolishing the monarchy or bringing in grammar schools, the debates were of very good quality, and the teams impressed judges and audience alike. The students were then treated to a full tour of the Houses of Parliament, including both the House of Commons and House of Lords.
In 2018, I will be hosting another Debating competition in Westminster later in the year, and in January I am hosting a debating workshop with Hitchin Girls’ school’s debating club. I know that I was very lucky to have had lots of opportunities to debate as a schoolboy – I believe it is an important tool to help young people learn about complex issues, build confidence, and develop public speaking skills.
Housing and local development
I strongly believe that we need to build more houses. However, I don’t subscribe to the view that we need to concrete over the Green Belt to do so, and in Parliament I have spoken about my commitment to the Green Belt, and questioned Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State in charge of housing. I am also very worried about the frustrating lack of infrastructure funding that means new housing development is too often accompanied by crowded roads, surgeries and schools. These are concerns that I have voiced both in private and in the House of Commons to Government ministers.
For those of you in Hitchin and the surrounding villages, you will be aware that the North Herts District Local Plan is currently in front of the Planning Inspector. I made my views known on the proposed local development to the Planning Inspector in November. You can read it here.
For those in Harpenden, Wheathampstead and Redbourn, St Albans District Council is due to produce its planning proposals early in 2018, and I have been closely in touch with them to make sure they consult widely with residents and explain their reasoning and analysis.
Scientific research – Rothamsted in Harpenden
I don’t think that enough people in the constituency know about the quality, world-renown and dynamism of what happens at the Rothamsted Institute in Harpenden. Rothamsted is a world-leading, non-profit research centre that focuses on strategic agricultural science to the benefit of farmers and society worldwide.
Rothamsted has more than 500 people working across its sites, representing over 35 nationalities and collaborations with over 50 countries. Sustainable food production for a rapidly growing world population is a priority for all of us.
I have spent time with not only the senior management at Rothamsted, but also countless students and scientists, who are all working together on work that will have a significant impact on all our lives. Their work currently ranges from crop scientists finding ways to make wheat more resistant to disease, to showing how intelligent reduced use of fertiliser can have benefits for increasing crop yields, in addition to the environmental benefits. Together we discussed the clear need for the Government to ensure that the increased funding for research and development is spent wisely, and as Rothamsted are one of the best organisations in the UK in the agricultural science sector, it is well placed to benefit from this research being an area of focus for the government. In November and December, I held talks with Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Business and Industrial Strategy, about Rothamsted and he is very aware of the great work that it does and will continue to do (and I am trying to arrange a high level Ministerial visit).
In 2018, I will be continuing my close engagement with Rothamsted and helping them raise more funding both from government and from private sources.
Luton airport
I have been extremely concerned by the increase in complaints I have received regarding aircraft noise, and I submitted a strongly-worded response to the Post-Implementation Review in October, to which the Civil Aviation Authority will respond early in 2018. Read it here.
I hosted an open meeting to discuss flight noise in Sandridge that was attended by over 200 people, so I understand the strength of feeling! I want to thank all those who have written to me over the recent months on this issue, as it has helped arm me with practical evidence that have been very useful in my arguments and discussions with Luton Airport and Luton Borough Council.
The announcement on 11 December by Luton Borough Council (who owns the airport) that it will seek to increase its passenger numbers from 18 million to 38 million by 2050 is very worrying. I am holding a debate in Parliament on 9th January to discuss this proposed expansion (to be responded to by a Government Minister), and am in discussions with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Sajid Javid on the impacts from a planning perspective – particularly relevant as Luton Borough Council not only owns the airport but is the planning authority.
Social exchange
I have been trying to meet as many people as possible across the constituency in my first few months, and listening to their concerns. In the autumn, I started my ‘social exchange’ tour – meetings with different groups of people in which we discuss the issues that concern them most, in a non-partisan and open environment. I try to do as little of the talking as possible (tough for me but I do try!) – this is my opportunity to listen. I was lucky to have an incredibly open discussion with Churches Together in Hitchin in November, where we discussed everything from the environment to mental health in children to Brexit. I’ve also been welcomed to the Hitchin Fire Station, to the Sikh Gurdwara temple in Hitchin and for early 2018 I have already arranged meetings with several other groups (such as local nurses, farmers, and small businesspeople).
If you have an idea of a group of people I should meet and listen to – please do get in touch with me at bim.afolami.mp@parliament.uk
Brexit
Brexit clearly is still dominating much of what goes on in Westminster. I voted Remain in 2016, but my view is that we should be focusing on getting the best deal for Britain, not re-running the referendum arguments or indeed holding another referendum. I have been greatly encouraged by two things in particular - what the Government has already agreed with the EU to ensure that EU citizens will be able to stay in Britain on the same terms as now, and by the fact that the Government and the EU have reached agreement on Phase 1 of the negotiations on schedule in December 2017, despite a few bumps along the way.
For the trade agreement with Europe itself, I have two principal priorities. First, financial services are clearly of great importance to our constituency. Before becoming your MP, I spent 10 years as a corporate lawyer in the City, then working in Strategy at HSBC, and so this is an area of personal experience and knowledge and I want to make sure the Government’s deal is in the long-term interests of that sector. I am already in discussions with contacts in the City, senior Ministers and other colleagues on how I can work with the Government to help us achieve the best deal we can – which should, at a minimum, allow access for City firms to provide services to EU citizens and companies without any extra costs or barriers.
Another area of real importance to the constituency is farming. I have got to know many of our local farmers, who mostly farm arable crops, and their primary concerns have been to ensure that they have access to EU markets and that they have a sensible domestic regime of subsidies which helps promote the right balance between food security and environmental concerns. We also need to make 100% clear that we will keep our very high food and environmental standards. I’m hosting an event with local Hertfordshire farmers in Gosmore in February, alongside Neil Parish MP (Chair of the DEFRA Select Committee), where I am sure Brexit will be at the top of the agenda.
Public Accounts Committee
In September, I was elected (by fellow MPs) to the Public Accounts Committee. This is the oldest select committee in Parliament, and our role is to examine government spending across all departments to ensure that it’s being spent efficiently and on the right things. I recently led on an inquiry into current problems with teacher recruitment and retention, and invited Alan Henshall – Head Teacher at Roundwood Park in Harpenden – to give evidence to the committee in public. Mr Henshall was very clear in outlining the problems he faces, and how we need to improve things. Sam Hankin, a young teacher at the Priory school in Hitchin, also submitted written evidence to the inquiry, and was an extremely important voice in highlighting the challenges for new teachers entering the profession.
It was great to be able to use my position on a high profile parliamentary committee to allow local leaders like Alan and Sam a platform to raise issues and concerns at a national level.
The public accounts committee has a very interesting schedule coming up in 2018, and we will be producing reports into issues such as the Government’s Brexit preparation, NHS commissioning, and the Thameslink upgrade.
As you can see, there is lots done and a lot more to do. I have enjoyed every minute of it. Thank you for your letters and emails, expertise, kindness and support.
All the best for the New Year,
Bim
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