December News from Freddie van Mierlo MP

In November the focus in Parliament fell on the budget, with the Chancellor finally revealing in full the anticipated tax rises (more below). Activity across the constituency has also continued apace. With Christmas now also on the horizon I'm looking forward to Christmas related events across the constituency!

Campaigns

This month, I drew attention again to the campaign for a Thame-Haddenham Greenway by cycling from Thame to Haddenham via the busy A418 along with campaigners, local Lib Dem Councillor Kate Gregory, and Thame Mayor Andy Gilbert. I'm making somewhat a habit of these cycle rides (last month covering off Sonning Common to Emmer Green), and they're proving to be hugely helpful in building the case for greenway projects. I also welcomed Oxfordshire County Council's inclusion of the greenway in their new strategic plan, which aims to deliver a planning application by 2027. 

I zoomed in on an issue local to Garsington in the north of the constituency by convening a call of the DVLA, Thames Valley Police, Oxfordshire County Councillors, and South Oxfordshire District Council to discuss how to best tackle an epidemic of illegal parking that is plaguing residents.  Despite issuing hundreds of penalty notices, Oxfordshire County Council has been unable to collect on the fines due to a lack of data provided by the DVLA on cars entering the motor trade. I highlight the case, because it demonstrates so much of what is going wrong and why MP involvement is critical sometimes. Responsibility is split across 4 organisations not talking to each other, and each ultimately passing the buck. The Councils want to help - even though it's not really their responsibility - but the DVLA keep coming back with 'computer says no' and the police say they can't (or won't) investigate!

I also covered a range of health issues again this month, including chasing again Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) on access to a new Duchenne medicine, asking OUH and Oxford Health for guidance on the lack of availability of HRT implants and laying down a motion in parliament on the grossly unfair postcode lottery on IVF treatment. 

In Westminster

The budget naturally dominated. On 2nd December I voted against Labour's suite of tax rises, including the stealth income tax rises, changes to agricultural property relief and alcohol duty rates. Labour's whipping operation was clearly in full force, as the Prime Minister and a senior cabinet member patrolled the Commons tea room and smoking room (no longer for smoking!). There's plenty of political analysis of the budget that I won't repeat, but my key take is that it was an incredibly disappointing budget for growth and the economy. It focused on redistributing the pie, not growing it. It all feels a long way from growth being the number one mission of the government when they first came in.

It was great to meet up again with local farmers (and Vicky the cow) who were gathering in Westminster to highlight the impact of the inheritance tax changes and the alternative that exists.

Elsewhere, I formally joined the Select Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation, with the first meeting focused on digital ID. I questioned the Minister Ian Murray on how secure the Government's database will be, and asked to what extent they had considered data breaches in other countries' ID systems. The answers, it's fair to say, were unconvincing. Others on the Committee questioned the Minister on the lack of clear costing - including a revelation that a request will be made to the Home Office to part fund it, potentially requiring a cut in policing.

I also celebrated International Men's Day with a dad joke - and joined a meeting of the APPG for Babies to discuss how important the first 1001 days from conception to year 2 are.

I enjoyed attending the launch of the Fruit and Vegetable Coalition last month  - an initiative brought to my attention by the team a Sandy Lane Farm in Tiddington; with only 1 in 3 of us getting our 5 a day, things need to change, it was brilliant to hear ideas on how to address this directly from growers.

Around the constituency

During Parliament Week, it was a delight to visit Chalgrove Primary School to discuss the role of Parliament in our democracy, and british values. It was lovely to talk with the schools student representatives, also elected to their positions, on their ambitions for the school. Thank you for such a wonderful visit! Nettlebed Primary School also shared their thoughts with me during Parliament Week on Government priorities, which I've now laid down as an early day motion in parliament. Great work Nettlebed! 

Amazingly, this month I also got to fly a Puma Helicopter. Well, a simulation of one. During a visit to RAF Benson and the training facilities run by local employer CAE, I was invited to take control of a Puma helicopter simulator - deciding to fly from Benson down to Henley and back. The visit focused on the serious point of the decommissioning of the Puma medium size helicopters (used for transport of personnel and equipment) and their replacement. I'm clear that the home of a replacement should be RAF Benson and that training should take place there.

Huge thanks to the National Farmers' Union (NFU) and the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), it was incredibly useful to co-host a Rural Roundtable event in Watlington to discuss the challenges facing the sector and to identify practical actions that can be taken locally and nationally.

It was also great to get out to Chinnor and talk to residents on the doorstep. My family and I had a brilliant time at the family open studios at  Garsington Opera (not in Garsington!) and attending the wonderful desert island discs inspired 'By the Sleepy Lagoon' event in Henley in support of the Chiltern Centre. I also appreciated having the opportunity to discuss broadband coverage across the constituency with Oxfordshire County Council

As always, my team and I are here to help if needed - please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any concerns you wish to raise by emailing me at freddie.vanmierlo.mp@parliament.uk.