During extensive discussions with the Prime Minister over the last week about trade and the technical and political situation in Northern Ireland I also took the opportunity to highlight the importance of our helicopter industry and the potential it has to drive exports and prosperity for the South West and beyond. I briefed him on Leonardo’s AW149 bid for the New Medium Helicopter requirement and the positive impact that would have on supply chains, jobs and skills across the South West in particular.
I also had a good meeting with Leonardo UK's company Chair, Clive Higgins, to further discuss further engagement with all aspects of the business including internationally, and mentioned the work I am doing to highlight the importance of AW149 to all the different Ministers whose departments' ambitions can be furthered by the choice of AW149. From Jeremy Hunt at the Treasury to Gillian Keegan at Education & Skills, to George Freeman at Science and Technology and Kemi Badenoch at Business and Trade, in addition to Ben Wallace and Alex Chalk in Defence, I am making sure all have a clear understanding of how the benefits interlink across a range of important policy areas.
In the last week I have also had a series of local meetings on key issues here in Somerset, including the senior leadership of Avon & Somerset Police, NHS Somerset and Somerset Council. There are always areas of overlap in services: for example the Police deal with a lot of low-level antisocial behaviour with which the Local Authority should also be engaged. Incidents of serious crime are thankfully relatively low here but efforts are being made to increase Police visibility and presence and collaborate with others in building community relations.
I discussed the GP situation in Chard with NHS Somerset management and am reassured that the closure of the Springmead surgery is being handled well with the transition to Ariel, the combination of two existing Chard surgeries, and this actually provides an opportunity to improve responsiveness to patients in the area. Some staff are transferring from Springmead and NHS Somerset is ensuring full health professional cover and recruitment to ensure better clinical capacity and improved experiences for patients, and there is potential for a new community health hub in central Chard to make local healthcare more joined up and accessible. I have already seen some positive feedback online regarding patient transfer and availability of appointments.
Duncan Sharkey the new Council CEO and I covered a wide range of Council issues which I wanted to highlight particularly as the move to a single Somerset Council should be a chance to make improvements. I highlighted the shortcomings of Planning and my concerns about proposed structures including not enough focus on the Local Community Networks that were at the heart of the idea for a unitary authority. I also raised the need to sort the Natural England phosphates problem so that building permissions can resume and highlighted what Government has been doing to mean less agricultural runoff, increased investment and permissions being less risky. I raised Chinnock Hollow and the need for a clear plan on that to be brought forward immediately, particularly as we have so many other important sandy hollows, perhaps with more local managament input. We also spoke about what the council can do better to care for children with Special Educational Needs; something about which I am passionate and in regular touch with Government Ministers about and trying to help families here.
It's obviously been a busy week on national issues too – lots to follow up on and clarify over the coming period.