FOLLOWING busy summer months in our constituencies, my parliamentary colleagues and I returned to Parliament at the beginning of September to start the new political year.
And although there were only a few weeks between Parliament’s return and the Conference recess, the work of Government continued at a fast-pace.
Amongst key recent announcements, the Government proposed joint investment package with Tata Steel, protecting the future of steel production and thousands of skilled jobs both in Wales and across the UK. The proposed investment of £1.25 billion – including a Government grant of £500 million – would see a transition to greener steel production in Port Talbot as we replace existing coal-powered blast furnaces with a state of the art electric furnace, reducing the UK’s entire carbon emissions by around 1.5 percent in the process.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister set out a pragmatic, proportionate, and realistic approach to reaching our net zero targets. Reducing the costs on hard-pressed families, among other measures the Prime Minister announced the easing of the transition from electric vehicles from 2030 to 2035, whilst also giving families far more time to transition to heat pump as well as significantly increasing grants to upgrade boilers. I know that some constituents were concerned to hear the Prime Minister’s announcement, but I want be clear that these changes will not require the UK to change or abandon its upcoming emissions targets. The UK has cut emissions faster than any other G7 country over recent decades and the Prime Minister is unequivocal that will meet our international agreements, including the critical promises in Paris and Glasgow to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.
In my ministerial capacity I recently travelled to Oman to continue negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The Gulf region is currently seeing rapid change and economic growth, creating a demand for international goods and services which is set to reach almost £1 trillion by 2035. A bloc-wide FTA would present fantastic opportunities to strengthen supply chains and support businesses across our economies.
More locally, I have been delighted to attend a number of events across my constituency and enjoy the last of the summer weather at Drotiwich SaltFest and Broadway Food Festival. I have also enjoyed a number of visits to companies including Park Candles in Hartlebury, All Things Wild in Honeybourne and Karndean in Evesham, the latter of which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage local residents to take part in this year’s Wychavon Residents Survey, before it closes on the 15th October 2023. The survey is open to all residents in Wychavon and can be accessed through the Council’s website.”
Evesham’s MP Nigel Huddleston writes for the Observer
