This week Peter Aldous signed the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment, in doing so pledging his commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and honouring those who were murdered during the Holocaust as well as paying tribute to the extraordinary Holocaust survivors who work tirelessly to educate young people today.

Holocaust Memorial Day falls on 27th January every year, the anniversary of the liberation of the infamous former Nazi concentration and death camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, in 1945. Across the UK – and world – people will come together to remember the horrors of the past.

In the lead up to and on Holocaust Memorial Day, thousands of commemorative events will be arranged by schools, faith groups and community organisations across the country, remembering all the victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides. The theme for this year’s commemorations is ‘Ordinary People’.

On Holocaust Memorial Day we also remember and pay tribute to all of those persecuted by the Nazis, including Roma and Sinti people, disabled people, gay men, political opponents to the Nazis and others. We also remember all of those affected by genocide since, in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

After signing the Book of Commitment, Peter commented:

“Holocaust Memorial Day is an important opportunity for people from Waveney to reflect on the darkest times of European history. Today, I pledge to remember the six million Jewish men, women and children who were murdered in Holocaust.”

Karen Pollock CBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said:

“On Holocaust Memorial Day we remember the 6 million men, women and children who were murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators, simply for being Jewish, and we pay tribute to the incredible survivors, many of whom still share their testimony day in and day out to ensure that future generations never forget the horrors of the past. We also remember that antisemitism did not start or end with the Holocaust, we must all be vigilant, and speak out whenever it is found.”

East Anglia’s energy sector headed to London to join the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR)’s House of Commons Reception at the Terrace Pavilion. 

In addition to key players representing major developers in the region (including ScottishPower Renewables, Sizewell C, Ørsted, Vattenfall, Equinor, and the National Grid), several Members of Parliament attended the event, including Chloe Smith, MP for Norwich North, and Brandon Lewis, MP for Great Yarmouth. 

Peter Aldous, MP for Waveney, opened the reception stating, “there is nowhere like the East of England for doing energy, and being in the forefront of the drive towards zero carbon. We’ve got it all.”

Mr Aldous went on to discuss the successes of the region in the last few years, including the Sizewell C project, offshore wind developments, the exciting prospect of hydrogen, and the unique opportunity the Bacton Gas Terminal presents: “The East of England can be a global exemplar of how to do zero carbon.” 

The MP also highlighted challenges facing the region, urging government to look at how valuable time lost during the planning process can be mitigated and made a plea to local communities to “work together” with industry to  elevate the region as a “global leader”. 

Mr Aldous concluded with a clear message: “Partnership working is vital. We need to be coming together and working via a clear policy framework.” 

Following the MP’s speech, Gillian Noble, Managing Director Offshore Development and Operations at ScottishPower Renewables (SPR), took to the podium to discuss what their East Anglia Hub project would do for not only the region but also the UK: “It will generate enough renewable electricity for up to 2.5 million homes, creating over 7,000 jobs. From now until 2030, SPR will invest £6 billion across the region.” 

Tom McGarry, Head of Regional External Affairs and Development for EDF’s Sizewell C (SZC) project followed, and heralded 2022 as a year of, “progress, achievement, and acceleration” for Britain’s new nuclear power station.

Mr McGarry discussed the initiatives being put in place to reduce the impact of the core construction on the local community. This included the placement of apprenticeships from Suffolk into roles at Hinkley Point C in anticipation of targeting 1,500 apprenticeships for the SZC project. 

With over £10 million worth of contracts already committed to East of England companies - £2 million in Suffolk alone – he echoed his peers’ earlier calls for collaboration with EEEGR and government to elevate the East of England as an “international example that will deliver a just transition to a cleaner and better future for all”. 

Luke Bridgman, Senior EPC Project Director at Ørsted: “The East of England is an exciting place for Ørsted. It’s home to our Hornsea 3 project and will become the world’s single biggest offshore wind farm when finished in 2027. With a capacity of 2.8 GW, it will power up to 2.3 million UK homes. Hornsea 3 will contribute significantly to Ørsted’s 30 GW by 2020 vision, and government’s ambition of having 50 GW of offshore wind installed by 2030 as part of the British Security Strategy.”

Rob Anderson, Project Director for Vattenfall’s Norfolk Vanguard and Boreas Offshore Wind Farms: “The good news is, [the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone is] all based in East Anglia. That’s over 10 GW of power that’s right there. It will bring lots of opportunities across the region, and we are engaging early with young people across the region as well as engaging actively through EEEGR and East Wind. […] There are head winds – we’ve seen cost increases, increased interest rates, and volatile supply chains. These need to be addressed early.”

Matei Negrescu, Vice President for Renewables at Equinor: “The East of England is where it all started for us in the offshore wind industry. It’s here that we developed our first wind farm, Sheringham Shoal, in 2011, followed by Dudgeon in 2017. Great Yarmouth is the home of our O&M base. […] We look to continue to collaborate with the Department for Business, Energy, and Industry, OFGEM, and more to futureproof the UK to deliver net zero targets.” 

Chris Bennett, Director for UK Regulation at National Grid: “We recognise the critical role we play in facilitating the transition to a cleaner, greener, and more affordable energy system. […] The move to renewables has never been more important, and the East of England is the heart of that. […] We shouldn’t underestimate the scale of the task ahead of us […] This will take all of us working together, and we are keen to work with everyone to support delivery of clean, affordable, and sustainable energy transition.” 

Attendees also heard from David Dukes from GENERATE and Jenny Morgan from Seaway7 throughout the event.
 
Overall, the event had a running theme of the East of England being a hub for investment, skills, apprenticeships, and benefits to the supply chain. The impact of projects will be huge. The East of England is a unique place, with the opportunity to become the energy exemplar of the UK, and EEEGR is spearheading work with developers, operators, the supply chain, and government to champion this within the region.

Peter Aldous recalls Parliament passing a motion in October calling on the Government to report to the House in three months’ time on their progress in addressing the crisis in NHS dentistry and seeks confirmation that the Government is producing a strategy and asks when it will be published.

Access to NHS Dentistry

Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con)

5. What steps he is taking to improve access to NHS dentistry. (903221)

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Neil O’Brien)

The Government are working to improve access. We have made initial reforms to the contract and created more unit of dental activity bands to better reflect the fair cost of work and to incentivise NHS work. We have introduced a new minimum UDA value to help sustain practices where they are low, and we are allowing dentists to deliver 110% of their UDAs for the first time to deliver more activity. Those are just the first steps; we are planning wider reforms.

Peter Aldous 

On 20 October, the House passed a motion highlighting the continuing crisis in NHS dentistry and calling on the Government to report to the House in three months’ time on their progress in addressing this crisis. That time has now elapsed. I am grateful to the Minister for that update, but can he confirm that the Government will be producing a comprehensive strategy for the future of NHS dentistry, and can he inform the House when it will be published?

Neil O’Brien 

It was very useful to meet my hon. Friend the other day, who is a great expert on this issue. As he knows, we are working at pace on our plans for dentistry. As well as improving the incentives to do NHS work, we are working on the workforce to make it easier for dentists to come to the UK. We laid draft secondary legislation in October to help the General Dental Council with that. We are working on our plans for a centre for dental development in Ipswich and elsewhere in the east of England, as he knows. Although we have not yet set a date to set out the next phase of our plans, my hon. Friend knows from our meeting that this is a high priority area for us and that we are working on it at pace.

Hansard

Peter Aldous highlights the higher heating costs for disabled people as they are invariably less mobile and spend longer in their home and asks what the Government are doing to help those with a disability to bridge that funding gap.

Cost of Living: Impact on People with a Disability

Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con)

16. What steps he is taking to help tackle the disproportionate impact of the cost of living crisis on people with a disability. (903202)

The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work (Tom Pursglove)

As I said earlier, six million people receiving an eligible disability benefit received a £150 disability cost of living payment last year and will receive a further £150 cost of living payment later this year. This is in addition to other Government support, such as up to £900 for those on a qualifying means-tested benefit.

Peter Aldous 

The £150 disability cost of living payment is indeed welcome, but those living with a disability spend more on heating costs, as they are invariably less mobile and spend longer, if not the whole day, in their home. As the hon. Member for Bootle (Peter Dowd) and my right hon. Friend the Member for Bexleyheath and Crayford (Sir David Evennett) have mentioned, Parkinson’s UK estimates that additional cost at £1,200. Will my hon. Friend set out what the Government are doing to provide advice and help those with a disability to bridge that funding gap?

Tom Pursglove 

I can certainly extend the offer to my hon. Friend to join the meeting that I agreed to in an earlier exchange. I am keen to have his insight and input on this issue. It is important to set that £150 payment in the context of a wider package of support that has been provided: the £900 cost of living payment; the £300 pensioner payment; and the support that has been provided through the energy price guarantee, as well as discretionary support. It is right, particularly with reform in the offing from April 2024 around energy support, that we look at this issue in the round.

Hansard

Peter Aldous speaks in the debate on the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill and raises concerns that the sunset clause at the end of this year is unrealistic, will result in hasty lawmaking and put the ultimate objective, to have better legislation than when we were in the EU, at risk.

Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con)

I have concerns about the Bill in its current form. Those concerns are informed partly by the National Farmers Union, of which I am a member through the family farm of which I am a partner, but they also apply to all other sectors of the economy and to all means of protection and regulation, whether they relate to the environment, to consumers or to workers. They are concerns of practicality, not of principle, and are driven by a desire to improve the UK’s regulatory and legal framework after our departure from the EU.

My principal worry is that the requirement to revoke all EU legislation by the end of this year is unrealistic. Such a sudden sunset clause sets a framework for bad and hasty lawmaking, although I acknowledge that the Bill makes provision for the deadline to be extended in certain circumstances.

Let me make some brief observations. Nearly seven years after the referendum, it is right that this process is finally being legislated for. There are many aspects of the law that require improvement and reform, but that needs to be carried out in a considered, not rushed, manner, with a proper review process set out and with full consultation.

The scale of the task, given the timescale proposed, is enormous. There is real worry about whether Departments such as DEFRA have the capacity to carry out the work, or whether other important work, of which there is much in these challenging times, will be given a lower priority as an unintended consequence. DEFRA alone has approximately 600 pieces of legislation to go through, and there may well be regulations of which it is unaware. A rash striking out of all laws by a set date could leave gaps in the law and the regulatory framework.

We should keep in mind the implications for the Government Legal Profession, in which morale is already low. A recent survey found that a third of its staff want to leave within a year. As well as the possible environmental and consumer protection risks that might inadvertently be created, there is also a worry that there will be a negative impact from a business perspective, with attention being diverted, uncertainty created and investment decisions delayed or cancelled.

In conclusion, I am worried that the Bill appears to be a continuation of the approach that has been adopted since Brexit: a rush, with no considered long-term plan in place, to carry out work such as agreeing trade deals that justify Brexit. We seem to be striving for quantity rather than quality. We are in danger of losing sight of what should be our ultimate objective: to put better arrangements in place than we had when we were in the EU. I fear that in its present form the Bill puts that aim at risk. I hope that in the Minister’s winding-up speech and in the other place, the Government will allay my concerns. They would do well to adopt the four-point improvement plan that my right hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Vicky Ford), who is not in her place, set out earlier in the debate.

Hansard

Speaking in a debate on the methodologies for setting allowable catches for data-limited stocks in fisheries negotiations, Peter Aldous pushes the case for southern North sea spurdog, which has data-limited status, as the inshore fishermen who fish sustainably with long lines and nets cannot catch spurdog at the moment, but EU trawlers can.

Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con)

My right hon. Friend has taken the case study of Celtic sea pollack. Would he consider how his approach might also help solve the dilemma with southern North sea spurdog? I was on CEFAS Endeavour on Monday morning and saw its excellent work, so could he quickly help us out of our dilemma on spurdog?

George Eustice (Camborne and Redruth) (Con)

I will be quick because I explained this earlier. My understanding—as a former Fisheries Minister, one’s knowledge decays over time and the existing Minister will have far more knowledge than me—is that there is at least some evidence now to make an assessment on spurdog. I do not know whether it is a full dataset to provide a MSY assessment. Nevertheless, a TAC has been set on that basis and I believe it is simply a parliamentary procedure to get a regulation in place to enable that TAC to take effect, but I am sure the Minister will have heard my hon. Friend’s question.

Hansard

Peter Aldous 

Can I come back on spurdog? I am most grateful to the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport (Luke Pollard) for raising the matter. Off the East Anglian coast, the inshore fishermen who fish sustainably with long lines and nets cannot catch spurdog at the moment, but EU trawlers can. Does the Minister share my vision that we should have a fisheries management plan that embraces the ICES recommendation on limited-catch fishery for spurdog and enables local East Anglian fishermen, fishing responsibly, to catch it?

The Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries (Mark Spencer)

Our motivation is very much to allow this total allowable catch to be used, and we want to get on with that as quickly as possible. It is a new stock with a new quota. We want it to be done sustainably, and we want to get on with it. We will hurry up the democratic process to ensure that people who want to catch that species are allowed to do so.

Hansard

Peter Aldous raises concerns about the acute skills shortages in key sectors of the economy and that the Government has acknowledged the need for significant expansion of further education capacity; he asks what the Department for Education is doing to meet that challenge.

Further Education: Revenue Funding

Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con)

5. Whether her Department plans to increase revenue funding for further education. (903052)

The Minister of State, Department for Education (Robert Halfon)

We are transforming people’s life chances by enabling them to climb the education and skills ladder of opportunity. On 9 January, we announced that in financial year 2023-24 we will increase funding rates to invest a further £125 million in 16-to-19 education. Some £18.5 million has been invested in 16-to-19 education in institutions that cover the Waveney constituency.

Peter Aldous 

I am most grateful to my right hon. Friend for that answer. Taking into account both the urgent need to address acute skills shortages in key sectors of the economy and the fact that participation in adult education fell from 4.4 million in 2003-04 to 1.5 million in 2019-20, it is vital that further education capacity is significantly expanded. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor highlighted the importance of investment in skills in his autumn statement. I would be grateful if my right hon. Friend the Minister could set out the work that has been done to meet that challenge ahead of the spring statement.

Robert Halfon 

My hon. Friend is an FE champion; I welcome his question. He will be pleased to know that we are investing in resources, increasing skills funding by £3.8 billion over the Parliament, investing in quality qualifications such as T-levels, higher technical qualifications, free level 3 courses, bootcamps and apprenticeships. We are also investing in infrastructure, rolling out 21 institutes of technology, spending £290 million.

Hansard

Peter Aldous questions the Government about amending the Data Protection Act to ease the bureaucratic burden on policing and speed up the administration of justice.

Peter Aldous (Waveney)  (Con)

T9.   Has my right hon. Friend liaised with colleagues in Government with regard to amending the Data Protection Act to ease the bureaucratic burden on policing and speed up the administration of justice? (903045)

The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Edward Argar)

We are determined to reduce any unnecessary bureaucratic barriers that make it harder for our police, and our criminal justice system more broadly, to work as effectively as possible. Although I am not aware of any discussions about the specific issue that my hon. Friend mentions, or about the section 29 exemption for policing under the DPA, I am aware that the Police Federation is doing some work on the issue. If he is willing to write to me with more details, I am very happy to look into the matter further.

Hansard

Peter Aldous calls on the Government to eliminate the backlog in court cases which is causing enormous personal distress and anguish citing a case reported in 2018 that has been postponed four times.

Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con)

19. What recent progress he has made on tackling the backlog of court cases. (903030)

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Mike Freer)

In the Crown court, the outstanding caseload has reduced from 60,400 in June 2021 to about 57,300 cases at the end of March 2022. However, the caseload has increased again, primarily due to the Criminal Bar Association action, which has now stabilised. We are taking action across the criminal justice system to bring down backlogs and improve waiting times for those who use our courts. That includes such things as increasing our judicial capacity and investing a significant amount of money across the criminal justice system.

Peter Aldous 

The backlog in court cases is causing enormous personal distress and anguish. My constituent originally in 2018 reported an historical rape. The trial has now been postponed four times and is currently scheduled for this June. I shall write to my hon. Friend providing full details of the situation, but can he leave no stone unturned in eliminating the backlog very quickly, as in such historical cases, justice delayed really can mean justice denied?

Mike Freer 

My hon. Friend raises a very important point. While I cannot talk about a specific case, the allocation and listing of cases is a judicial responsibility, and I can reassure him that the judiciary continue to work to prioritise cases involving custody time limits, as well as those involving vulnerable complainants and witnesses, domestic abuse and serious sex cases. The judiciary are incredibly sensitive to the need to ensure that the most vulnerable complainants and victims get their day in court as fast as possible.

Hansard

Peter Aldous writes for The House Magazine.

The Future Fisheries Alliance (FFA), a coalition of the Marine Conservation Society, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and World Wildlife Fund, advocate for sustainable fisheries management and propose Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) with cameras to achieve this.

Our planet needs help, as evidenced by the climate and biodiversity crisis. Our ocean regulates the climate and is home to more than 70 per cent of the planet’s life, yet effective protection is lacking. United Kingdom seas have failed to meet 11 out of the 15 indicators of Good Environmental Status, according to the Global Compact Network UK’s “Measuring Up 2.0”, and whilst policies are in place for better environmental management, these are only effective if implemented correctly.

Fishing is a vital industry for many, including our own island nation, but there are various ways it is causing damage to marine wildlife and habitats. Only 35 per cent of UK stocks are currently fished within environmental limits, according to the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, with little data to inform management. Relying on outdated monitoring methods and insufficient data means we are unable to accurately reflect what is removed from our ocean.

Whales have been found to aid in carbon capture, however more than 1,000 cetaceans, thousands of seabirds and other species are estimated to be killed every year by UK fishing activity. We need to recognise the value of the ecosystem services that marine species and habitats provide and act in a way that best serves conservation.

REM using cameras is a powerful, cost-effective means of delivering unbiased data for sustainable fisheries management. It is an interactive system to understand where, when and how vessels are fishing, with recorded data available for UK fishing authorities to access in real time. This combination of smart technologies could reduce monitoring costs by roughly 25 per cent compared to traditional systems, although costs and application will vary.

REM would provide data that could help end unsustainable and potentially illegal fishing activities, whilst creating indisputable scientific data that we urgently need. This can be used by fishers to evidence sustainable fishing practices, track fishing effort and catch amounts, amongst other factors.

By leading the way in the adoption of progressive technology, the UK could position itself as a world leader in sustainable fisheries management, delivering accountability and confidence in the supply chain whilst safeguarding our ocean. Of course, the extent of benefits from REM depends on the effectiveness of its deployment. We must ensure that existing regulatory tools and regulators raise their game and work much more effectively with industry.

Polling data shows that the UK population believes that responsibility for monitoring lies mostly with the fishing industry. However, the public feels that having bycatch data and knowing what is legally caught at sea, and landed, is of almost equal importance and that this should be the responsibility of the UK government.

Governments must develop a roadmap for implementation of REM across fleets with prioritisation given to those posing the highest ecological risk. REM does not aim to cause job loss in the industry but increase sustainability and confidence levels of fishers and consumers. In turn, the long-term prospects of the industry are improved as well as environmental and ecosystem status.