It will come as no surprise that I continue to receive a large amount of correspondence in relation to the recent flooding. The current system is not working, and something needs to be done.

That is why I was delighted to:

• Discuss how we can manage and store water more effectively in the winter months so that farmers, businesses, and residents have better access to water in the dryer summer months.

• Explore how we can avoid flooding in the future.

I will continue to work with the various groups that have been set up to try and bring people together to combat this dreadful situation.

Fast modern rail is crucial to modern economies around the world. Here in the East, people are sitting in cars and trains going nowhere fast in an area that has a lot more to offer – and where we should be generating more of our own economic growth and prosperity.

Following the joint-letter from Norfolk and Suffolk Conservative MPs to the Secretary of State for Transport last month (to read the letter, please click here), I was delighted to chair a meeting between us all, the Minister of State for Rail, the New Anglia LEP, the Chamber of Commerce and the Norwich Research Park, among others, earlier this week.

Together, we re-emphasised to the Secretary of State and Rail Minister our firm belief that improved rail services and connectivity between Norwich-Cambridge-Ipswich would ensure our “Golden Triangle of Growth” is able to be at the forefront of the “Green Revolution” – unlocking, and allowing us to fulfil, our full potential – delivering countless jobs, boosting local skills, spreading prosperity and helping us ALL embrace a cleaner, greener way of life as we move towards Net Zero.

There is a long way to go, but I remain committed to working with the team and look forward to pushing this forward in the months ahead.

To read more on the campaign, please click here

For all of those of us that love and appreciate our beautiful rural and coastal landscapes here in the East, it is clear that the current chaotic “free for all” approach to delivering offshore wind infrastructure is unsustainable in the long term.

If we are to avoid unnecessary damage to our environment, and reduce and mitigate the amount of disruption experienced by communities, businesses and our vital tourism industry, we must develop a proper strategic Plan (an Offshore Transmission Network – also known as an Offshore Ring Main) – one that will be crucial if we are to ensure that we can reach and exceed the Government’s Net Zero targets as well.

That’s why I was delighted to join fellow MPs from Norfolk, Suffolk and now Essex in a meeting with the new Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth (the Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP) earlier this week – to continue pushing hard on the urgency of this issue.

Yesterday, Minister Trevelyan also held the latest official roundtable on this issue (with BEIS officials, MPs, National Grid, National GridESO, OFGEM, the Crown Estates and industry experts) – and I welcomed the opportunity to hear more about the ongoing Review work, and to have the chance with colleagues to hold the officials to account.

While there much work still needs to be done, I remain committed to working hard on this issue.

To learn more about the campaign, please click here.

Big Society Capital is the leading financial institution dedicated to social impact investment in the UK working with the government and other lenders.

That’s why I was delighted to virtually meet CEO Stephen Myers and the team to learn more about their work.

As we “Build Back Better”, we must look at innovative ways as to how we can deliver tangible, local benefits for communities- not just major pieces of infrastructure.

Having helped back the likes of “The Swan” public house in Gressenhall for funding as part of a community purchase, I am very excited to learn more about what the  BSC might be able to do to support more schemes like that in Mid Norfolk, and Norfolk more widely.

Thousands of Mid Norfolk residents were devastated this Christmas by flooding, sewerage outflows and power cuts, which left untold misery across the county.

That is why I am delighted to highlight the great work the residents of Watton and Saham have done and got together and formed the Watton and Saham Flood Action Group.

To find out more please click the link:  https://wattonsahamfloodaction.org.uk/

Charities have faced an unprecedentedly tough year with Covid – and we ALL must do everything we can to support the great work they do, and the people that rely on them.

Break is an outstanding charity doing amazing work, and I have been lucky enough to have had the privilege to support CEO Rachel Cowdry and the team over the past year.

That’s why I am delighted to raise awareness of the charity’s ‘Be There’ campaign – which hopes to raise some of the £2.1million reduction in funds last year: brought about by the closure of their shops/the inability to fundraise during the pandemic.

Full details of the campaign can be found on their website: here

I look forward to meeting with the team again at their ‘Coffee Break’ van – which is in residency at Norwich Cathedral over the coming weeks.

Having been the MP for Mid Norfolk since 2010, and the Conservative Candidate for the constituency for three years before that, I have come to know Blenheim Grange very well, and have long helped speak up for the 1500 or so residents that call it home.

That is why I have written a letter of support for Carbrooke Parish Council’s application for this funding, which would be used to provide much needed community facilities for the people of Blenheim Grange.

I firmly believe that there is an urgent need for improved community facilities on the estate – to help social cohesion and avoid social issues between residents. Having been badly let down by developers in the past, the estate is in need of some much needed investment, and I applaud the efforts of the Parish Council, and local district and county councillors, to keep raising awareness of this issue.

“After losing my job in Government last year I didn’t look to replace my loss of salary but instead pledged to return to focus on my longstanding work on regeneration through various not-for-profit projects I have helped set up: The Norfolk Way, The Big Tent Foundation, The Bridge of Hope, Prosper4Jobs, the New Anglia Net Zero Festival Partnership, and a blood cancer research company owned by patients & charities.

Because I had understood that ACOBA was concerned (rightly) with the prevention of lobbying or profiteering by former Ministers exploiting privileged access to Government through their former Departments, I didn’t think that this sort of work on not-for-profit / community / start-up social enterprise projects required permission.

As soon as I understood that I should have sought ACOBA guidance earlier, I apologised and sought their guidance with full disclosure of all my various projects since being an MP.

ACOBA have today made clear that as an Ex-Minister I should have sought their permission before undertaking ANY work, regardless of whether for a charity or a not-for-profit project.

ACOBA have also made clear that HAD I sought permission earlier there would have been no reason not to give it: they have made clear that NONE of the projects I have been working on represent any conflict of interest and nothing in the actual work I have undertaken contravenes the Ministerial Code or the Nolan Principles of Public Office, both of  which I take very seriously.

My error was in misunderstanding the ACOBA process & remit: I have apologised profusely in writing to the ACOBA committee for that misunderstanding and made very clear that I totally respect their remit & process which I am willingly and gladly ensuring I am bound by on all matters going forward.”

George Freeman calls on the Government to take the opportunity of regulatory freedom post-Brexit to better integrate our aid and trade by using variable tariffs to incentivise high-quality production, and UK aid to support tech transfer of UK agritech and clean tech to help developing nations tackle the challenges of sustainable agriculture and development.

Grand Challenges: International Collaboration

George Freeman (Mid Norfolk) (Con)

What diplomatic steps he is taking to encourage international collaboration to tackle the UK Government’s grand challenges. (914440)

The Minister for Asia (Nigel Adams)

We are at the heart of discussions about global challenges and mega-trends, including through the UK’s G7 and COP26 presidencies. On clean growth, we will harness those presidencies to advance our climate agenda in the run-up to COP26. On artificial intelligence, in September, the UK signed a declaration with the US to drive technological breakthroughs in AI. This puts the UK at the forefront of the AI and data revolution. On science, the UK has strong science collaboration arrangements with more than 50 countries, from the research powerhouses of the US and Europe to emerging economies.

George Freeman [V] 

Through my work with the Prime Minister’s taskforce on innovation, growth and regulatory reform, we are looking at how we can make Brexit a real opportunity for the UK as a global science and innovation superpower to better integrate our aid and trade and to boost R&D investment, inward investment, exports and sustainable global development. Does the Minister agree that, to help developing nations to confront the biggest global grand challenges of sustainable agriculture and development, as set out in the Foresight report, including the challenge of nearly doubling world food production on the same land area with half as much water and energy, we could use variable tariffs to incentivise high-quality production, and UK aid to support tech transfer of UK agritech and clean tech for sustainable growth?

Nigel Adams 

I thank my hon. Friend for all the work he does in this area. Nowadays—and when he was an excellent Minister—we provide preferential tariffs for 70 developing countries through the generalised scheme of preferences. This includes a framework covering implementation and international environment conventions. We are supporting international research partnerships and the roll-out of agritech across the poorest and most climate-vulnerable countries. This is delivering crop varieties that are more productive, nutritious and resistant to drought and pests. Our clean tech investments are enabling UK battery pioneers to develop new technologies and business models to deliver clean energy in Africa.

Hansard