5 March 2012
George Freeman backs the Government’s actions to tackle the deficit fairly and welcomes measures to drive social mobility and help people to break away from a dependency culture through serious reforms to welfare and education.
George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con): We are tonight invited by the Opposition to join them in sympathising with the squeezed middle. Of course, that is Labour’s cynical project to identify itself with the people hardest hit by the crisis with which it left us. It seems to be the Opposition’s only policy. In the absence of any serious consideration of the crisis for which they are responsible, they now posture as the only people who feel the public’s pain. That is utterly cynical, and we have seen and heard tonight how little truck the House has with that view.
The truth is that we are all being squeezed, but not for the reasons the Opposition set out. The shadow Chief Secretary, in hysterical tones, accused Government Members of indulging in reckless and heartless cuts. We are being squeezed by the actions of a responsible coalition, which was invited by the country to tackle a national emergency. We need to remember the scale of the crisis we inherited, the effect on living standards, which we are all feeling, and the steps the Government have taken.
Brandon Lewis (Great Yarmouth) (Con): Does my hon. Friend agree that one of the best ways the Government could help to improve living standards is by creating an environment in which private sector businesses can grow, employ more people and, potentially, give them pay rises when they do well?
George Freeman: My hon. Friend makes an excellent point. I could not agree more. We need to rebalance the economy and realise that every pound spent here is a pound that has to be earned by businesses and the people who work for them.
The truth is that we inherited £1 trillion of debt—£25,000 for every man, woman and child in the country—and a situation in which £1 out of every £4 of Government expenditure had to be borrowed. We had debt interest payments of £120 million a day, and debt interest would have risen to £76 billion per annum over the Parliament had we not tackled the deficit. Yes, there was an international credit crunch, but it was the actions of the Labour Government that led us into a position of extreme vulnerability. They inherited a golden legacy in 1997 after the previous Conservative Government had had to put the country through a painful and difficult period. It was a golden legacy that, after two years, they set about—
Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo): Order. The hon. Gentleman has a minute less than the clock is showing before I interrupt him. There is a problem with the clocks.
George Freeman: After two years of sticking to the previous Administration’s prudence, the Labour Government set about the biggest spending spree in peacetime history, but because of their cynical promise to the electorate not to increase income tax, they set about a series of other measures: they sold the gold at the bottom of the market; they launched an unprecedented programme of indirect stealth taxes, which we are still feeling today; they bungled the regulation of the Bank of England—apparently planned in the back of a taxi by the former Prime Minister—which led to an explosion of cheap credit and the very crony capitalism that they accuse us of; they created an out-of-control boom that led to the very bust they promised to prevent forever; and they set about, quite deliberately, a massive public sector expansion without the necessary structural reforms to make it sustainable. Unless we had tackled the deficit, we would have left the country facing the possibility of rising interest rates, triggering a massive and serious depression.
In truth, the squeeze is being felt not just by the middle but by the young and old in this country. Every child has £25,000 of debt and a mountain to climb. Every middle-income family—in more and more of them, every man and woman has to work to pay their way—will face a tidal wave of taxes, a rising cost of living and the ticking time bomb of inflation if we do not keep the deficit under control. Our elderly have been let down by the previous Government, who promised so much and delivered so little. They are now facing an NHS structurally unable to meet the challenges of the ageing population that depends on it.
The coalition Government have set out to tackle this legacy fairly, with great rigor and in a way that is progressive—meaning with the intention of driving social mobility and helping people to break out of Labour’s dependency culture through serious reforms to welfare and education. I want to cite several things that have been done that future generations will look back on kindly: the targeting of child benefit on the most needy; the raising of personal allowances, taking 1 million people out of tax and handing money back to 25 million of our poorest families; the freezing of council tax; the uprating of pensions and the triple lock, which will be worth £15,000 to the average pensioner family; and the protection of cold weather payments. The Labour party should hang its head in shame for coming here and posturing on behalf of the people who are paying the price of their irresponsibility.
| Hansard
George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con): We are tonight invited by the Opposition to join them in sympathising with the squeezed middle. Of course, that is Labour’s cynical project to identify itself with the people hardest hit by the crisis with which it left us. It seems to be the Opposition’s only policy. In the absence of any serious consideration of the crisis for which they are responsible, they now posture as the only people who feel the public’s pain. That is utterly cynical, and we have seen and heard tonight how little truck the House has with that view.
The truth is that we are all being squeezed, but not for the reasons the Opposition set out. The shadow Chief Secretary, in hysterical tones, accused Government Members of indulging in reckless and heartless cuts. We are being squeezed by the actions of a responsible coalition, which was invited by the country to tackle a national emergency. We need to remember the scale of the crisis we inherited, the effect on living standards, which we are all feeling, and the steps the Government have taken.
Brandon Lewis (Great Yarmouth) (Con): Does my hon. Friend agree that one of the best ways the Government could help to improve living standards is by creating an environment in which private sector businesses can grow, employ more people and, potentially, give them pay rises when they do well?
George Freeman: My hon. Friend makes an excellent point. I could not agree more. We need to rebalance the economy and realise that every pound spent here is a pound that has to be earned by businesses and the people who work for them.
The truth is that we inherited £1 trillion of debt—£25,000 for every man, woman and child in the country—and a situation in which £1 out of every £4 of Government expenditure had to be borrowed. We had debt interest payments of £120 million a day, and debt interest would have risen to £76 billion per annum over the Parliament had we not tackled the deficit. Yes, there was an international credit crunch, but it was the actions of the Labour Government that led us into a position of extreme vulnerability. They inherited a golden legacy in 1997 after the previous Conservative Government had had to put the country through a painful and difficult period. It was a golden legacy that, after two years, they set about—
Madam Deputy Speaker (Dawn Primarolo): Order. The hon. Gentleman has a minute less than the clock is showing before I interrupt him. There is a problem with the clocks.
George Freeman: After two years of sticking to the previous Administration’s prudence, the Labour Government set about the biggest spending spree in peacetime history, but because of their cynical promise to the electorate not to increase income tax, they set about a series of other measures: they sold the gold at the bottom of the market; they launched an unprecedented programme of indirect stealth taxes, which we are still feeling today; they bungled the regulation of the Bank of England—apparently planned in the back of a taxi by the former Prime Minister—which led to an explosion of cheap credit and the very crony capitalism that they accuse us of; they created an out-of-control boom that led to the very bust they promised to prevent forever; and they set about, quite deliberately, a massive public sector expansion without the necessary structural reforms to make it sustainable. Unless we had tackled the deficit, we would have left the country facing the possibility of rising interest rates, triggering a massive and serious depression.
In truth, the squeeze is being felt not just by the middle but by the young and old in this country. Every child has £25,000 of debt and a mountain to climb. Every middle-income family—in more and more of them, every man and woman has to work to pay their way—will face a tidal wave of taxes, a rising cost of living and the ticking time bomb of inflation if we do not keep the deficit under control. Our elderly have been let down by the previous Government, who promised so much and delivered so little. They are now facing an NHS structurally unable to meet the challenges of the ageing population that depends on it.
The coalition Government have set out to tackle this legacy fairly, with great rigor and in a way that is progressive—meaning with the intention of driving social mobility and helping people to break out of Labour’s dependency culture through serious reforms to welfare and education. I want to cite several things that have been done that future generations will look back on kindly: the targeting of child benefit on the most needy; the raising of personal allowances, taking 1 million people out of tax and handing money back to 25 million of our poorest families; the freezing of council tax; the uprating of pensions and the triple lock, which will be worth £15,000 to the average pensioner family; and the protection of cold weather payments. The Labour party should hang its head in shame for coming here and posturing on behalf of the people who are paying the price of their irresponsibility.
| Hansard
2 March 2012
Formerly known as Yaxham Mill Freehouse, the restaurant was purchased in October by husband and wife team Hugo and Anna Stevenson, who closed the premises for 5 weeks in order to undertake an extensive refurbishment. The pub re-opened for trading under the new name, The Mill Café Bar & Restaurant on Friday 2nd December, since which time they have welcomed over 3000 diners to their bar and restaurant.
Today George was given a tour of the front and back of house, as well the kitchens, and met many of the staff, including Executive Chef David Potter.
George said:
“It was fantastic to see such an investment in the region’s economy and to meet Hugo, Anna and their team, who are all extremely passionate about serving seasonal produce which is locally sourced. Businesses such as this are exactly what is needed to promote growth and sustainability within our rural community.”
Hugo Stevenson said:
“We were delighted to welcome Mr Freeman to The Mill to see what we’ve achieved since we purchased the business in October. It’s been a whirlwind three months since we re-opened to the public and the support we have received has been amazing, so we were very proud to be able to show Mr Freeman the ideas behind The Mill, as well as share some of our plans for the future.”
Anna Stevenson said:
"Hugo and I hope that we have created a relaxing, comfortable and family friendly environment in which visitors can enjoy anything from a cup of coffee or a pint of real ale, to a three course fine dining experience. We have loved every minute of being part of the Yaxham community and in the coming months and years we look forward to continuing to welcome guests from the local area as well as further afield.”
For more information about The Mill Café Bar & Restaurant please contact Anna Stevenson on anna@themillnorfolk.co.uk
Today George was given a tour of the front and back of house, as well the kitchens, and met many of the staff, including Executive Chef David Potter.
George said:
“It was fantastic to see such an investment in the region’s economy and to meet Hugo, Anna and their team, who are all extremely passionate about serving seasonal produce which is locally sourced. Businesses such as this are exactly what is needed to promote growth and sustainability within our rural community.”
Hugo Stevenson said:
“We were delighted to welcome Mr Freeman to The Mill to see what we’ve achieved since we purchased the business in October. It’s been a whirlwind three months since we re-opened to the public and the support we have received has been amazing, so we were very proud to be able to show Mr Freeman the ideas behind The Mill, as well as share some of our plans for the future.”
Anna Stevenson said:
"Hugo and I hope that we have created a relaxing, comfortable and family friendly environment in which visitors can enjoy anything from a cup of coffee or a pint of real ale, to a three course fine dining experience. We have loved every minute of being part of the Yaxham community and in the coming months and years we look forward to continuing to welcome guests from the local area as well as further afield.”
For more information about The Mill Café Bar & Restaurant please contact Anna Stevenson on anna@themillnorfolk.co.uk
1 March 2012
Following the launch of the Life Sciences Strategy and the Innovation Health and Wealth report, this morning George joined Advances in Medical Science: collaboration for growth, a conference showcasing the latest developments in medical science, bringing together the science community, the NHS and their respective partners to come together to discuss innovative medicines and treatments for pressing health issues.
During his speech George outlined how healthcare and life sciences are central to the government's Plan for Growth and the actions to support the strong relationship between the NHS and industry and their potential to stimulate economic growth that have been set out in the recent Life Sciences Strategy.
Close collaboration across sectors is essential in ensuring success and the event, by bringing together academics, industry, clinicians and government was a great example of this co-working relationship in action.
| Advances in Medical Science: collaboration for growth
During his speech George outlined how healthcare and life sciences are central to the government's Plan for Growth and the actions to support the strong relationship between the NHS and industry and their potential to stimulate economic growth that have been set out in the recent Life Sciences Strategy.
Close collaboration across sectors is essential in ensuring success and the event, by bringing together academics, industry, clinicians and government was a great example of this co-working relationship in action.
| Advances in Medical Science: collaboration for growth
28 February 2012
As part of an ongoing campaign to highlight the importance of science and innovation for Britain’s recovery, and Norfolk’s part in it, on Monday George supported the need for basic science in the curriculum and the importance of bringing students and industry together.
George used the example of the Isaac Newton free school to demonstrate the innovative thinking that will help to drive a passion for science in the UK. Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Education, was equally supportive.
George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con): Given the importance of the UK science base to our innovation economy, does the Minister agree that we need to do all we can to support basic science learning in the curriculum and to inspire our young scientists through industry? Will he join me in welcoming the Sir Isaac Newton maths and science free school in Norfolk and my campaign for a Norfolk science day to bring industrial researchers together with our teachers?
Michael Gove: Yes, I have to say that Miss Rachel de Souza, the head teacher of the Ormiston Victory academy, who I understand is behind this initiative, is a visionary school leader. I absolutely agree that we need to do more to recognise how we can encourage mathematical and scientific learning among young people. The model of the 16-to-18 maths free schools, with which Ormiston Victory academy is engaging, is one of many ways of encouraging that helpful trend.
| Hansard
George used the example of the Isaac Newton free school to demonstrate the innovative thinking that will help to drive a passion for science in the UK. Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Education, was equally supportive.
George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con): Given the importance of the UK science base to our innovation economy, does the Minister agree that we need to do all we can to support basic science learning in the curriculum and to inspire our young scientists through industry? Will he join me in welcoming the Sir Isaac Newton maths and science free school in Norfolk and my campaign for a Norfolk science day to bring industrial researchers together with our teachers?
Michael Gove: Yes, I have to say that Miss Rachel de Souza, the head teacher of the Ormiston Victory academy, who I understand is behind this initiative, is a visionary school leader. I absolutely agree that we need to do more to recognise how we can encourage mathematical and scientific learning among young people. The model of the 16-to-18 maths free schools, with which Ormiston Victory academy is engaging, is one of many ways of encouraging that helpful trend.
| Hansard
27 February 2012
George Freeman welcomes plans for the Sir Isaac Newton maths and science free school in Norfolk and calls on the Secretary of State for Education to back his campaign for a Norfolk science day to bring industrial researchers together with our teachers.
George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con): Given the importance of the UK science base to our innovation economy, does the Minister agree that we need to do all we can to support basic science learning in the curriculum and to inspire our young scientists through industry? Will he join me in welcoming the Sir Isaac Newton maths and science free school in Norfolk and my campaign for a Norfolk science day to bring industrial researchers together with our teachers?
Michael Gove: Yes, I have to say that Miss Rachel de Souza, the head teacher of the Ormiston Victory academy, who I understand is behind this initiative, is a visionary school leader. I absolutely agree that we need to do more to recognise how we can encourage mathematical and scientific learning among young people. The model of the 16-to-18 maths free schools, with which Ormiston Victory academy is engaging, is one of many ways of encouraging that helpful trend.
| Hansard
George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con): Given the importance of the UK science base to our innovation economy, does the Minister agree that we need to do all we can to support basic science learning in the curriculum and to inspire our young scientists through industry? Will he join me in welcoming the Sir Isaac Newton maths and science free school in Norfolk and my campaign for a Norfolk science day to bring industrial researchers together with our teachers?
Michael Gove: Yes, I have to say that Miss Rachel de Souza, the head teacher of the Ormiston Victory academy, who I understand is behind this initiative, is a visionary school leader. I absolutely agree that we need to do more to recognise how we can encourage mathematical and scientific learning among young people. The model of the 16-to-18 maths free schools, with which Ormiston Victory academy is engaging, is one of many ways of encouraging that helpful trend.
| Hansard
23 February 2012
Speaking today at the Norfolk Farming Conference, George Freeman called for a new debate on GM, saying UK drought and global development in food security make it essential that the European Union changes its opposition to Agricultural Science and GM, so that Europe and the UK can help pioneer the agricultural innovation the world is crying out for.
Speaking after the event, George said:
“With the world’s population set to rise to 9 billion in our lifetimes, our generation faces a historic challenge of sustainability: to double global food supply using less water, energy and chemical inputs, and using half as much land. The challenge was spelt out in no uncertain terms in the recent Foresight Report by the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Sir John Beddington, who called for a new agricultural revolution of ‘sustainable intensification”.
“As Britain looks for ways to build a sustainable, export led economic recovery, and define a new role in the rapidly emerging global economy, the application of our world class expertise in agriculture, nutrition and plant science to support the fast growing markets in the developing world is a major opportunity we should seize.”
“The global market for agricultural biotechnology is valued at over £90 billion and growing at 10-15 per cent annually. With developing nations such as the USA, China, Brazil and Argentina rapidly investing in the sector it would be madness for us to stand aside. Access to all available technology and innovation will be essential if Europe’s farmers are to remain internationally competitive and play their part in ensuring global food production keeps pace with demand.”
“This is NOT about a wholesale adoption of GM in the UK food chain. Consumers should be free to choose what they eat, and helped to make well informed choices based on excellent science based regulation and labeling. BUT it would be irresponsible for us to turn our back against the enormous environmental and developmental benefits of GM and other agricultural innovation, at a time when the planet desperately needs these breakthroughs for sustainable development.”
Speaking after the event, George said:
“With the world’s population set to rise to 9 billion in our lifetimes, our generation faces a historic challenge of sustainability: to double global food supply using less water, energy and chemical inputs, and using half as much land. The challenge was spelt out in no uncertain terms in the recent Foresight Report by the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Sir John Beddington, who called for a new agricultural revolution of ‘sustainable intensification”.
“As Britain looks for ways to build a sustainable, export led economic recovery, and define a new role in the rapidly emerging global economy, the application of our world class expertise in agriculture, nutrition and plant science to support the fast growing markets in the developing world is a major opportunity we should seize.”
“The global market for agricultural biotechnology is valued at over £90 billion and growing at 10-15 per cent annually. With developing nations such as the USA, China, Brazil and Argentina rapidly investing in the sector it would be madness for us to stand aside. Access to all available technology and innovation will be essential if Europe’s farmers are to remain internationally competitive and play their part in ensuring global food production keeps pace with demand.”
“This is NOT about a wholesale adoption of GM in the UK food chain. Consumers should be free to choose what they eat, and helped to make well informed choices based on excellent science based regulation and labeling. BUT it would be irresponsible for us to turn our back against the enormous environmental and developmental benefits of GM and other agricultural innovation, at a time when the planet desperately needs these breakthroughs for sustainable development.”
22 February 2012
Yesterday afternoon George joined Norfolk MPs and Transport Officials to present the Fair Fares Petition to the Prime Minister.
Norfolk's 23,500-signature Fair Fares petition was delivered to 10 Downing Street today along with a formal request for a special grant to cover the unfunded costs of the Concessionary Travel scheme.
Concessionary Travel is a nationally-funded scheme operated by local authorities, but for many the Government funding has been well short of the actual cost - in Norfolk's case £4.5m short this year (2011-12). This forces authorities to fill the gap from their own resources, putting pressure on other services including support for rural bus services.
The handing over of the petition at No 10 at 3pm was supported by John Hart, Leader of Devon County Council, and Sophie Allain of the national Campaign for Better Transport.
Representing Norfolk along with George were Graham Plant, Cabinet member for planning and transportation, Brandon Lewis, MP for Great Yarmouth and Keith Simpson, MP for Broadland.
Speaking after the handover, George said:
“Reliable transport links are essential for sustaining the vibrancy of rural communities and there is a great fear shared across Norfolk that the decline in these services would leave those most vulnerable isolated.
We are heading towards a perfect storm in Norfolk with a rapidly ageing population, marginal rural commutes and rising fuel costs. And our rural bus network just can’t keep up.
For too long deprivation in rural areas like Norfolk has gone unrecognised, and this petition should help to bring these issues to the forefront of politics.”
Norfolk's 23,500-signature Fair Fares petition was delivered to 10 Downing Street today along with a formal request for a special grant to cover the unfunded costs of the Concessionary Travel scheme.
Concessionary Travel is a nationally-funded scheme operated by local authorities, but for many the Government funding has been well short of the actual cost - in Norfolk's case £4.5m short this year (2011-12). This forces authorities to fill the gap from their own resources, putting pressure on other services including support for rural bus services.
The handing over of the petition at No 10 at 3pm was supported by John Hart, Leader of Devon County Council, and Sophie Allain of the national Campaign for Better Transport.
Representing Norfolk along with George were Graham Plant, Cabinet member for planning and transportation, Brandon Lewis, MP for Great Yarmouth and Keith Simpson, MP for Broadland.
Speaking after the handover, George said:
“Reliable transport links are essential for sustaining the vibrancy of rural communities and there is a great fear shared across Norfolk that the decline in these services would leave those most vulnerable isolated.
We are heading towards a perfect storm in Norfolk with a rapidly ageing population, marginal rural commutes and rising fuel costs. And our rural bus network just can’t keep up.
For too long deprivation in rural areas like Norfolk has gone unrecognised, and this petition should help to bring these issues to the forefront of politics.”
22 February 2012
This week George spoke in Parliament to champion the strategic importance of the Falkland Islands and the South Atlantic, in particular to energy security, climate science and the geopolitics of Antarctica. With the 30th Anniversary of the Falklands war approaching, George stressed the significance of these islands and the opportunities they continue to provide.
George questioned the Secretary of State on his plans for military deployments to the Falklands, and reminded him of the vital strategic interests the islands represent- namely energy security and the work done by the British Antarctic survey on climate change.
Just last week, David Willetts, the Universities & Science Minister, passed through the Falklands on a trip to the Antarctic, highlighting the continuing importance of British presence in this region.
You can see the full text of George’s contribution below:
George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con): What plans he has for defence deployments to the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement.
The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Philip Hammond): The Ministry of Defence routinely deploys a range of military assets in defence of the Falkland Islands and in fulfilment of our standing Atlantic Patrol, South task. Despite media speculation to the contrary, there has been no recent change to force levels. There is no evidence of any current credible military threat to the security of the Falkland Islands, and therefore no current plan for significant changes to force deployments. However, Her Majesty’s Government are committed to defending the right of the Falkland Islanders to self-determination, and plans exist for rapid reinforcement of the land, sea and air forces in and around the islands should any such threat appear.
George Freeman: Does my right hon. Friend agree that the UK has important strategic interests in the south Atlantic, not least in energy security, the important work done by the British Antarctic Survey on climate change and the geopolitics of the Antarctic? Will he update the House on any discussions that he has had with our allies regarding the defence of the Falklands?
Mr Hammond: The defence of the Falklands is an integral part of our overall military tasks, and I regularly discuss the conduct of those tasks with our allies as appropriate.
George questioned the Secretary of State on his plans for military deployments to the Falklands, and reminded him of the vital strategic interests the islands represent- namely energy security and the work done by the British Antarctic survey on climate change.
Just last week, David Willetts, the Universities & Science Minister, passed through the Falklands on a trip to the Antarctic, highlighting the continuing importance of British presence in this region.
You can see the full text of George’s contribution below:
George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con): What plans he has for defence deployments to the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement.
The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Philip Hammond): The Ministry of Defence routinely deploys a range of military assets in defence of the Falkland Islands and in fulfilment of our standing Atlantic Patrol, South task. Despite media speculation to the contrary, there has been no recent change to force levels. There is no evidence of any current credible military threat to the security of the Falkland Islands, and therefore no current plan for significant changes to force deployments. However, Her Majesty’s Government are committed to defending the right of the Falkland Islanders to self-determination, and plans exist for rapid reinforcement of the land, sea and air forces in and around the islands should any such threat appear.
George Freeman: Does my right hon. Friend agree that the UK has important strategic interests in the south Atlantic, not least in energy security, the important work done by the British Antarctic Survey on climate change and the geopolitics of the Antarctic? Will he update the House on any discussions that he has had with our allies regarding the defence of the Falklands?
Mr Hammond: The defence of the Falklands is an integral part of our overall military tasks, and I regularly discuss the conduct of those tasks with our allies as appropriate.
20 February 2012
This week George spoke in Parliament to champion the strategic importance of the Falkland Islands and the South Atlantic, in particular to energy security, climate science and the geopolitics of Antarctica. With the 30th Anniversary of the Falklands war approaching, George stressed the significance of these islands and the opportunities they continue to provide.
George questioned the Secretary of State on his plans for military deployments to the Falklands, and reminded him of the vital strategic interests the islands represent- namely energy security and the work done by the British Antarctic survey on climate change.
Just last week, David Willetts, the Universities & Science Minister, passed through the Falklands on a trip to the Antarctic, highlighting the continuing importance of British presence in this region.
George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con): What plans he has for defence deployments to the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement. [95297]
The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Philip Hammond): The Ministry of Defence routinely deploys a range of military assets in defence of the Falkland Islands and in fulfilment of our standing Atlantic Patrol, South task. Despite media speculation to the contrary, there has been no recent change to force levels. There is no evidence of any current credible military threat to the security of the Falkland Islands, and therefore no current plan for significant changes to force deployments. However, Her Majesty’s Government are committed to defending the right of the Falkland Islanders to self-determination, and plans exist for rapid reinforcement of the land, sea and air forces in and around the islands should any such threat appear.
...
George Freeman: Does my right hon. Friend agree that the UK has important strategic interests in the south Atlantic, not least in energy security, the important work done by the British Antarctic Survey on climate change and the geopolitics of the Antarctic? Will he update the House on any discussions that he has had with our allies regarding the defence of the Falklands?
Mr Hammond: The defence of the Falklands is an integral part of our overall military tasks, and I regularly discuss the conduct of those tasks with our allies as appropriate.
| Hansard
George questioned the Secretary of State on his plans for military deployments to the Falklands, and reminded him of the vital strategic interests the islands represent- namely energy security and the work done by the British Antarctic survey on climate change.
Just last week, David Willetts, the Universities & Science Minister, passed through the Falklands on a trip to the Antarctic, highlighting the continuing importance of British presence in this region.
George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con): What plans he has for defence deployments to the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement. [95297]
The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Philip Hammond): The Ministry of Defence routinely deploys a range of military assets in defence of the Falkland Islands and in fulfilment of our standing Atlantic Patrol, South task. Despite media speculation to the contrary, there has been no recent change to force levels. There is no evidence of any current credible military threat to the security of the Falkland Islands, and therefore no current plan for significant changes to force deployments. However, Her Majesty’s Government are committed to defending the right of the Falkland Islanders to self-determination, and plans exist for rapid reinforcement of the land, sea and air forces in and around the islands should any such threat appear.
...
George Freeman: Does my right hon. Friend agree that the UK has important strategic interests in the south Atlantic, not least in energy security, the important work done by the British Antarctic Survey on climate change and the geopolitics of the Antarctic? Will he update the House on any discussions that he has had with our allies regarding the defence of the Falklands?
Mr Hammond: The defence of the Falklands is an integral part of our overall military tasks, and I regularly discuss the conduct of those tasks with our allies as appropriate.
| Hansard
17 February 2012
Want Fast Broadband in Rural Norfolk? Register NOW.
Today George launched an Appeal to all those with an interest in fast rural Broadband to register.
“It’s great news that we have secured £60m funding from national and local Government and private sector to upgrade our broadband. BUT as the new network infrastructure is planned we need to make sure that it provides for the hidden need in rural areas. All of us who want rural broadband must register and support the “Say Yes to Better Broadband for Norfolk” campaign.
To join over 8,000 people who have already registered their support, please follow the link below:
http://sayyestobroadband.co.uk/default.aspx
This morning George launched the campaign with award winning Attleborough entrepreneur and founder of Liftshare, Ali Clabburn, and Norfolk County Councillor responsible for Broadband, Ann Steward, to encourage everyone to register their support.
As the founder of the UK’s biggest online car-sharing network, Ali Clabburn highlighted the importance of improved broadband for rural enterprise.
Speaking after the meeting, George said “Liftshare is a great example of how one person with a broadband connection on a farm can start up an award-winning, profitable and growing national business. Norfolk has one of the fastest growing economies in the country and superfast broadband will help us achieve the sustainable economic recovery we all want to see.
“But broadband is not just an essential business tool. By connecting people in remote rural areas it is a powerful force for opportunity, social mobility and empowerment – opening doors to people who couldn’t otherwise travel to access new opportunities, and supporting more work from home and family friendly-work. Broadband is crucial to the renaissance of a vibrant rural economy and community here in rural Norfolk.
“I have long believed we CAN have new opportunities AND keep our traditional way of life – this is why I started The Norfolk Way” – click here to find out more: www.thenorfolkway.co.uk
Photo: George with Liftshare founder, Ali Clabburn, and Norfolk County Councillor responsible for Broadband, Ann Steward at the launch of an appeal to register and support the “Say Yes to Better Broadband for Norfolk” campaign.
