The new regulations rushed through in the last days of the Labour Government would mean that the ship-to-ship transfer of oil is only permitted in harbour authority areas which hold an Oil Transfer Licence. This could have a significant impact on jobs in the Waveney area.
But in a written statement today from the Department of Transport, Mike Penning MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, announced a review will take place to allow for all views to be heard before the legislation comes into force.
Mr Aldous said:
“This is good news as it provides all interested parties the opportunity to put forward their own views. I would urge them to take part in the consultation and to forward their views to me. Doing all we can to retain jobs is most important in these lean times but I do fully understand the need to consider the safety of oil transfer from ships.”
Mr Penning today tabled a Statutory Instrument which defers the regulations from 1 October 2010 to 1 April 2010. The closing date for representations to the consultation is 30th September.
| Click here for Mike Penning MP's statement
Mr Aldous spoke of the ingredients necessary for business to flourish and for jobs to be created in the Waveney area. He also assessed the progress of the Coalition to date, finding reason for optimism amidst challenging economic circumstances.
Other MPs attending the conference included Speaker of the House of Commons, the Rt. Hon. John Bercow MP, Shadow Business Minister, Ian Lucas MP, Conservative MP for West Suffolk, Matthew Hancock, and Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, the Rt. Hon. Peter Hain MP.
Mr Aldous commenting said:
“It was an honour to be invited to speak at this conference and I was particularly pleased for the chance to raise some of the key issues for businesses in Waveney.”
Other speakers at the conference included: Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the TUC, Will Hutton of The Work Foundation and Professor Graeme Leach, Chief Economist, Institute of Directors.
• Do learn some basic signs and fingerspelling
• Do repeat yourself or rephrase until you’re understood
• Do face me when you speak
• Do think about communication support
• Don’t have lots of background noise
• Don’t shout
• Don’t avoid conversation.
Peter Aldous MP says: “Many shops, services and residents in Waveney may not realise the barriers faced by people who are deaf or hard of hearing and how small changes, such as holding face-to-face conversations in well lit places, can significantly improve communication. I encourage others to join me in learning about the communication needs of people who are deaf or hard of hearing.”
Chair of UKCoD, Susan Daniels, said: “Adults and children who are deaf or hard of hearing face communication barriers due to a lack of awareness in the community which can lead to issues such as isolation and exclusion from society. We’re urging everyone in Waveney to follow Peter Aldous MP’s example and improve their everyday communication with people who are deaf or hard of hearing.”
UKCoD, RNID and NDCS are encouraging everyone to get involved in the discussion on ‘do’s and don’t’s’ of communication by uploading a photo of their top communication tips and sharing their thoughts at www.flickr.com/groups/daw2010
One in seven people in the UK are deaf or hard of hearing, and of those, over 45,000 are deaf children.
Photo: Peter Aldous MP with NDCS member Hayley McWilliams and RNID member Stan Freed
Speaking in the House of Commons, Peter Aldous calls on the Government to ensure that it gets the best possible deal for British farmers and fishermen from the forthcoming reviews of the CAP and CFP.
Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con): If she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mrs Caroline Spelman): I will be publishing my Department's priorities shortly in our structural reform plan, but I can share with the House that they are: to support British farming and food and encourage sustainable food production; to enhance the environment and biodiversity to improve the quality of life; and to support a strong and sustainable green economy, resilient to climate change.
Peter Aldous: Fishing and farming are important industries in my constituency of Waveney in north Suffolk, and the forthcoming reviews of the CAP and the CFP provide a great opportunity to improve the prospects of those two industries. Can the Minister and her team assure my constituents that they will stand up for British farmers and fishermen and show the leadership to get them the best possible deal?
Mrs Spelman: I can assure my hon. Friend that the coalition Government are engaging effectively and constructively with the EU in the UK's national interest. I hope that the early evidence of the invitation to the commissioner, which was accepted last night, will demonstrate that we are taking the concerns of British farmers and fishermen right to the heart of European matters.
| Hansard
Mr Aldous will be pressing for the through train between Lowestoft and London Liverpool Street to be reinstated. Transport Minister Theresa Villiers has recently announced that the Department of Transport is to consult on the future of rail franchising, with the aim of considering whether longer franchises would be able to offer investment in improvements to trains and services.
In the interim Mr Aldous is keen to ensure that the inconvenience passengers will suffer as a result can be minimised, thus he and the other MPs have asked National Express to confirm that additional staff will be available at Ipswich Station to help passengers over the bridge until a lift has been installed. They have also proposed that fares should be decreased due to the poorer service to be provided to passengers.
Mr Aldous commenting said:
“It was good to meet with National Express to press home the importance of good rail links in the area. I am particularly concerned that elderly passengers, mothers with children and people with disabilities may have to switch platforms at Ipswich to board London bound trains without the assistance of a lift. We have asked clarification over a number of issues, including arrangements to help passengers until a new lift is installed at Ipswich Station; journey times and connection arrangements, as well as whether fares will be reduced if the quality of service declines.”
Mr Aldous will be pressing for the through train between Lowestoft and London Liverpool Street to be reinstated. Transport Minister Theresa Villiers has recently announced that the Department of Transport is to consult on the future of rail franchising, with the aim of considering whether longer franchises would be able to offer investment in improvements to trains and services.
In the interim Mr Aldous is keen to ensure that the inconvenience passengers will suffer as a result can be minimised, thus he and the other MPs have asked National Express to confirm that additional staff will be available at Ipswich Station to help passengers over the bridge until a lift has been installed. They have also proposed that fares should be decreased due to the poorer service to be provided to passengers.
Mr Aldous commenting said:
“It was good to meet with National Express to press home the importance of good rail links in the area. I am particularly concerned that elderly passengers, mothers with children and people with disabilities may have to switch platforms at Ipswich to board London bound trains without the assistance of a lift. We have asked clarification over a number of issues, including arrangements to help passengers until a new lift is installed at Ipswich Station; journey times and connection arrangements, as well as whether fares will be reduced if the quality of service declines.”
Mr Aldous said:
“This is part of the Coalition Government’s drive to reduce the huge budget deficit they have inherited. Any move that takes justice away from people is to be regretted. There will now be a period of consultation on the planned closure and I invite anyone who would like to express their concerns to write to me in order that I can represent their views.”
Mr Aldous said:
“This is part of the Coalition Government’s drive to reduce the huge budget deficit they have inherited. Any move that takes justice away from people is to be regretted. There will now be a period of consultation on the planned closure and I invite anyone who would like to express their concerns to write to me in order that I can represent their views.”
Waveney MP, Peter Aldous is pushing for better and faster broadband across the constituency and will be taking up the matter with Ministers in Westminster. He recently attended a business forum on broadband at Adastral Park, Martlesham which included prominent leaders from Suffolk’s business community.
The meeting, which was hosted by BT, included other newly elected MPs, Therese Coffey from Suffolk Coastal and Dr Daniel Poulter from Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, along with representatives from Choose Suffolk, the Confederation of British Industry, the Institute of Directors, the Federation of Small Businesses, the National Farmers Union, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce and the Country Land & Business Association. The MPs were given a list of key actions to take to Westminster to push for improved high speed broadband availability in Suffolk.
Mr Aldous said:
“Better broadband is a must for Suffolk, both to enable existing businesses to grow and to encourage new businesses to set up in Waveney.I will be working with colleagues across the Coalition Government to try to put a stop to “notspots”.
Andy Wood, Chairman of Choose Suffolk and Chief Executive of Adnams, said:
“We discussed the challenges facing rural businesses and rural communities more generally around broadband. The upshot is that businesses in Suffolk are prepared to play a full and active part in finding the right solution for the county and, on the evidence of the meeting, our MPs, too, are more than willing to play their part.”
The business forum called for:
- local MPs to arrange a meeting with new broadband minister, Ed Vaizey
- an audit to be carried out of existing resources in Suffolk
- the appointment of a co-ordinating person or organisation with the necessary authority
- authorisation of resource sharing and co-operation
- an end to unrealistic advertising promises around broadband speeds
- funding with a proper structure and delivery framework
- the business forum to be kept informed of any progress and to facilitate two-way communications.
The theme of Carers Week is 'A Life of My Own' with calls for greater understanding and support for the army of carers who provide vital care for their families, friends and communities. In doing so, many sacrifice much in their own lives, unable to do the little things that most of us take for granted. All too often, these unsung heroes also suffer ill health.
Mr Aldous met with Dr Chris at the House of Commons to pay tribute to carers, and to urge that they receive more support in their caring roles.
Mr Aldous who recently signed Early Day Motion 14 in the House of Commons, supporting Careers Week 2010, said:
"During the election campaign I met many carers and was struck by the number of who have made sacrifices but get scant recognition. I am supporting Carers Week and all those helping to raise awareness of carers, and their priceless contribution they make to our local community. I hope that as a result of Carers Week, many more carers will find out about services and support that exist to help them.
Celebrities supporting Carers Week, all of whom have had experience of caring, include: Lynda Bellingham, Cilla Black, Jonathan Dimbleby, Gloria Hunniford, Sir David Jason, Claire King, Phyllida Law, Miriam Margolyes, Esther Rantzen, Angela Rippon and Tony Robinson.
Photo:Peter Aldous with Dr Chris Steele supporting Carers Week
