Connectivity is vital for rural communities like our own.

That’s why I have actively supported the campaign to fully dual the A47 from Lowestoft in the East to the A1 in Cambridgeshire in the West. Having brought the then Prime Minister to Mid Norfolk in 2014 to commit the funding for the North Tuddenham to Easton dualling, I continue to work with fellow MPs, the A47 Alliance, and local business and community groups to make the case for full dualling. Furthermore, I also continue to hold National Highways and other stakeholders to account over safety at our accident blackspots, which are often on parts of the A47 that won’t be dualled for some time.

On Friday, I visited Necton to discuss safety improvements at the dangerous Necton junction. I also took the opportunity to visit the dangerous Draytonhall Lane junction near Dereham.

To learn more about my wider work on making our roads fit for the 21st Century, please visit my website campaign page here, and see the video below.
 

Having long supported Necton and the surrounding communities on the subject of Vattenfall’s infrastructure proposals in the area, I am very aware that many constituents will have questions about Vattenfall’s announcement yesterday that they are to “halt” progress on their Norfolk Boreas project.

That’s why, yesterday, I sought a briefing from Vattenfall, who confirmed that, while they remain committed to the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone, they are indeed stopping the current development track for the Norfolk Boreas project due to rapidly rising costs since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine last year. They will continue to evaluate the best way forward for Boreas, as well as its sister project Norfolk Vanguard – also part of the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone.

In the meantime, work will continue onshore with Vattenfall’s already underway preparatory activity and enabling works for both projects along the cable corridor and around the site of the planned substations in Necton – which is why I still intend to visit their Community Event in the village this afternoon to speak to officials and ensure Mid Norfolk’s voice is being heard.

Rest assured, I will continue to follow the developing situation very closely.

To see the EDP articles on Vattenfall’s announcement, please click here and here.

To see more about my work in relation to the Vattenfall proposals in Necton and Mid Norfolk, as well as my work on the wider campaign lobbying for a proper offshore solution to connecting this vital national infrastructure to the National Grid, please visit my website campaign page here.

After a packed week in Westminster, the House rises for the Summer Recess.

Heading back to Mid Norfolk this evening ahead of a busy summer schedule – starting with a packed Constituency Day tomorrow focused on:

• The Norfolk Urban Search and Rescue team based at Dereham (see more here)
• A47 Necton Junction Safety Improvements (see more here)
• Offshore Wind Infrastructure – visiting the Vattenfall Community Event in Necton to speak to constituents and share the feedback I have been receiving with Vattenfall representatives (see here)
• Local Community Banking Hub in our market towns (see here)
• Meetings with local businesses

Throughout the summer, I will continue be working with my small team to support my Mid Norfolk constituents on a range of casework matters, as well as driving forward the various local and national campaigns and projects that I am involved with.

If YOU have a local casework matter you would like my help with, please email me on george.freeman.mp@parliament.uk

George Freeman, Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation answers MPs’ questions to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Decarbonisation Technologies

Joanna Cherry (Edinburgh South West) (SNP)

2. What recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of UK Research and Innovation funding for decarbon-isation technologies. (906121)

The Minister for Science, Research and Innovation (George Freeman)

We can all be proud that this country is leading the global charge on net zero. As part of our historic uplift in R&D expenditure to £20 billion a year—£52 billion over the consolidated spending review period—UK Research and Innovation is investing in £800 million annually on research and innovation in net zero, and £210 million through the industrial decarbon-isation fund. I am delighted that Scotland is in the vanguard, with more than 1,400 projects funded, in receipt of £1.3 billion. The Faraday battery challenge investment of £540 million appears to be working, with the good news today of Tata’s multibillion investment in a £4 billion gigafactory.

Joanna Cherry 

I am delighted to hear the Minister acknowledge that Scotland is in the vanguard of research in this area. The Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre at Heriot-Watt University in my constituency has become a focal point of collaboration and innovation for UK industrial clusters, but the excellent progress that it is making is at risk owing to a funding gap. Will the Minister meet me to discuss the vital work being done at Heriot-Watt University, and how the Government can support it better in its efforts to help them to reach their industrial decarbonisation targets?

George Freeman 

Brevity, Mr Speaker: yes, with pleasure.

Hansard

Topical Questions

Sir Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con)

T2. There can be few more exciting and innovative projects for any constituency than a spaceport to launch satellites into space. We had a done deal to build one on the runway at RAF Scampton, before the Home Office marched in and stymied the whole project. Will the Minister please lobby the Home Office to try to get the spaceport back? Why would the Home Office want a runway, or is there a darker purpose behind this? (906136)

The Minister for Science, Research and Innovation (George Freeman)

My right hon. Friend has raised this before, and I will happily speak to him about it and support that space cluster. The UK is poised to lead Europe in the launch of low Earth orbit satellites over the coming decade, and we are building launchpads around the country for that very purpose.

Hansard

Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)

T3. Indeed, we have world-class universities in the west midlands. What plans does my right hon. Friend have to support regional innovation clusters? (906137)

George Freeman 

My hon. Friend makes an important point. We are investing heavily in regional innovation clusters all around this country. We have three: one in Manchester, one in Glasgow and one in the west midlands, where the excellent Mayor, Andy Street, is driving a genuine innovation economy.

Hansard

As the OffSET campaign for a proper strategic solution to delivering vital Offshore Wind Infrastructure continues, I welcomed the latest OffSET meeting with OFGEM today – at which our collective of MPs once again stressed the importance of an Offshore Transmission Network (sometimes also known as an Offshore Ring Main) being delivered as swiftly and comprehensively as possible.

The importance of proper community consultation was also highlighted, with OFGEM told in no uncertain terms that they need to do more themselves, with National Grid, National GridESO and developers, to drive forward the OTN campaign.

This remains a key campaign for my fellow OffSET MPs and I, and we are working hard to try and secure further meetings with ministers and key stakeholders as we collectively lobby for the proper strategic solution we want to see – and which will in fact enable us to connect more offshore wind power to our National Grid much more quickly.

To stay up to date with all my campaign efforts on this issue, please visit my website here.

Dental health is a crucial part of NHS services and it is vital that EVERYONE can access the support they need when they need it.

That’s why I welcomed the Norfolk and Waveney NHS Integrated Care Board’s latest MP briefing this afternoon – the latest such meeting as the ICB work with ourselves, and other partners across Norfolk, to try and tackle the pressures so many constituents face when trying to obtain an appointment or secure treatment.

Today, ICB officials updated us on the immediate steps they have been taking since they took on responsibility for NHS dental commissioning back in April. Some progress has already been made, but there remains much to be done. The ICB confirmed that they intend to announce a further one year plan by September setting out the additional measures they will pursue to tackle immediate issues in the NHS dental system.

Looking ahead, the ICB wish to develop their own dental strategy by 2024, which will set out their local commissioning approach for the next five years. All of us, as local MPs, are keen to support that work and are committed to working with the ICB and partners to lobby Department for Health and Social Care ministers and officials, as well as seek more local solutions also.

The next MP briefing is set to take place in September, but our collective efforts (including our campaign for a new, full undergraduate training School of Dentistry in Norfolk) will very much continue over the summer – with regular conversations ongoing, and each MP raising individual cases on behalf of constituents.

This continues to be a central focus of mine and I will provide further updates as I work with parliamentary colleagues, the ICB and partners to drive forward improvements in our local NHS dental provision.

To learn more about my active campaign work on this issue, please visit my website here.

The terrifying wildfires across Norfolk this time last year were a stark reminder of the power of nature. Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service faced unprecedented levels of demand as a consequence of the prolonged dry, hot weather our region experienced and, here in Mid Norfolk, we sadly saw a number of people in Ashill made homeless after a fire began in a nearby wheat field and spread into the village (see here).

That’s why, in the year since, I have continued to maintain close relations with Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service as they have carried out reviews into the pressures they faced and implemented a package of measures aimed at improving their response capabilities and resilience. While Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service have long bene recognised as having strong resilience, they are not complacent and are determined to learn what lessons they can from last year’s experiences.

This past Friday, I received a Teams update from Ceri Sumner, Chief Fire Officer for Norfolk, who outlined some of that important work, including:

• New, strengthened wildfire training for all staff
• Enhanced training for strategic commanders at the Fire Service
• A broader education package for the local population
• Closer relationships with the local farming community to better educate farmers and landowners about the precautions they should take, while also enabling the Fire Service to use on-site water supplies
• New adapts and couplings on Fire Service vehicles to enable them to utilise local bore holes
• Greater mapping of local farmland bore holes

Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service are also strengthening their operational support (particularly for those fire fighters in the field) so that they can be as effective as possible – especially when operating in highly difficult conditions, such as prolonged wildfires in considerable heat.

This is all very positive work. HOWEVER, we must ALL stay vigilant – taking personal responsibility and doing what we can to limit the potential of wildfires in our area.

While it may seem that the weather has been kinder so far this year, the reality is that Norfolk is not far off the amount of wildfires that it had experienced this time last year.

Please see the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service advice and guidance and graphics below.

Later this week, I look forward to visiting Dereham Fire Station to meet with Ceri and her team in person – where I will visit the Norfolk Urban Search and Rescue team.

Together with NCC, the Fire Service and other Norfolk MPs, I recently helped secure an extension to the Urban Search and Rescue team’s future – and I look forward to reiterating my support to the team in person, and to finding out more about the vital work they do, including on wildfires. (To learn more about my efforts to secure that extension, please click here)

I also look forward to discussing with Ceri in more detail the wider work being done by the Fire Service to reduce the risk of fires in our county, while enabling fire fighters to combat those that do occur more effectively.

Rest assured, I am committed to doing all I can to maintain the future of the Urban Search and Rescue team for the long term – and to supporting Ceri and the wider Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service as they continue to do outstanding work to protect our communities.

NORFOLK FIRE AND RESCUE GUIDANCE

1. Prevent wildfires

Residents and visitors can help prevent wildfires in Norfolk by following four simple steps:

1. Dispose of cigarette butts responsibly rather than throwing them on the ground
2. Do not have BBQs in parks and public spaces other than designated areas.  Portable BBQs pose the greatest risk, especially when they are placed directly on the ground - avoid using them altogether
3. Do not have campfires or bonfires except in carefully managed and designated areas. You must never leave them unattended and always have the ability to extinguish them if you need to
4. Do not drop glass bottles because they can magnify the sun's rays and cause fires

Remember, if you see any signs of smoke or wildfire report it immediately to 999

2. Protect your home

All residents should take steps to protect their home from wildfire

1. Trim back shrubs or trees that are close to / touching your home and dispose of cuttings responsibly. Piles of cuttings are fuel for fire.
2. Clear away any build-up of flammable material in and around your garden such as leaves, compost heaps, log piles, dry grass etc.
3. Check for spaces between roof tiles or within your home where burning embers could become lodged such as rain gutters.
4. Position sheds and outbuilding away from your home and make sure that flammable substances (including fertilisers and pesticides) are stored safely
5. Ensure your home is adequately insured and protected with smoke detection

As all of us in Norfolk know, our county is a wonderful place in which to live, work and visit. We have beautiful landscapes and unique habitats, and a tremendous community spirit and heritage that unites us all.

We are increasingly home to home to some of the most exciting sectors of fast growing economic innovation in the world as well, creating new companies and thousands of new jobs and opportunities which, in time and with proper planning, will spread prosperity and breathe fresh life into our local towns and villages, keeping them thriving and vibrant.

However, as we also know, living in rural and sparsely populated areas like our own also provides a variety of different challenges and pressures to our friends in more urban settings – often holding back the progress and positive growth we all desire (and therefore the tax receipts for many of our local public services), while ensuring there continues to be pockets of deprivation and poverty which with better access to jobs and investment would disappear.

That’s why I welcomed being involved in today’s Norfolk County Council MP’s discussion on the cost of rural service delivery.

Having been a vocal advocate for our local services throughout my time as the MP for Mid Norfolk, I am committed to working with local stakeholders to ensure our county gets the support and resources it needs, while also exploring the bold, innovative approaches that could deliver improved results across a number of fields. For example, through:

• Digital Rural Bus Service schemes that tailor services to demand and boost rural connectivity
• Improved rural broadband and mobile phone signal
• Embracing pioneering local companies like Liftshare – the world’s largest liftshare company, based right here on a doorstep

And so much more!

I look forward to working with Norfolk County Council, as well as our local district councils and other key stakeholders, to drive forward positive progress on rural service delivery in the months and years ahead.

As the MP for a largely rural area, I am acutely aware of the importance of local bank branches in our local community - especially for the most vulnerable, elderly and many local businesses.

 That’s why I continue to do my upmost to stand up for local banking services and access to cash.

While the closure of the HSBC in Wymondham next month is very disappointing, I am pleased that they are committed to an ongoing outreach programme with the town and will be present at various pop up events over the coming months :

That being said, I continue to work with local councillors across Mid Norfolk to see what more we can do to try and retain and return local banking facilities to our market towns – and I hope to be able to provide more information on some of that work in the weeks and months ahead.

Farming is one of our region’s most vital sectors and, having grown up on my stepfather’s farm, previously worked as Parliamentary Officer for the NFU and now represented a largely rural constituency for over thirteen years, I place great importance on supporting our local agricultural industries, as well as those looking to protect and enhance the landscapes and habitats that make our area such a nice place to live.

That’s why I was delighted to visit Tittleshall Manor Farm a couple of weeks ago to discuss some of the challenges facing farmers, land managers and conservationists, meeting with representatives from the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) – both of which are campaigning to secure a sustainable, resilient and fair food system.

As a planet, we are currently facing the challenges of an ever-warming climate, biodiversity loss, and widespread food insecurity exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. One of the key solutions to these problems is innovative, nature-friendly farming – which can build resilience into our agricultural sector by boosting diversity and pioneering new approaches to farming, land management and conservation.

Mid Norfolk, and the East, has long led the way in these fields and I welcomed the opportunity to learn more about the CLA’s “Rural Powerhouse Campaign” and the NFFN’s recent report highlighting the role that nature friendly farming can play in building a sustainable food future.

I very much look forward to continuing my close work with the local farming community, ensuring that the issues they are facing are highlighted with DEFRA, while also championing the bold, innovative solutions they are developing.

To learn more about all of my work supporting our local food and farming industries, as well as our local environmental sector, please visit my website here