Nigel’s July Newsletter

Dear Constituent,

Welcome to my latest newsletter to keep you updated on my work in Parliament and around Amber Valley.

As always, you’ll find a selection of what I’ve been up to over the last few months and details of upcoming events. You’ll also find the usual information about my columns, surgeries and how to contact me.

Parliament’s currently on Summer Recess, so I’ve started my Summer Tour of Amber Valley, visiting charities, businesses and groups across the constituency. I’ll provide an update on what I’ve been doing in my next newsletter but, if in the meantime, you want me to visit your group or business, please get in touch!

‘Brexit & Business’ Breakfast Roundtable Event – 11th September 2017:

I will be holding a ‘Brexit & Business’ breakfast roundtable on the 11^th September 2017, from 8.30am in Alfreton.

The event is being organised with Thorntons so Amber Valley businesses can come together to discuss the upcoming possibilities and challenges of Brexit. The aims of the roundtable are to offer local businesses an opportunity to present their priorities for our exit from the European Union, learn more about the negotiation timetable, and discuss this Government’s priorities for securing the best possible deal with the EU.

I’m pleased that Emma McClarkin MEP will be speaking, and I’ve also invited a Minister from the Department for Exiting the European Union.

For further details, and to register a free place for your business, please ring my office on 01773 744341 or email me on nigel.mills.mp@parliament.uk

A38 Noise Campaign Success – noise barriers to be installed:

I’m delighted that Highways England have provided me with an update on the awful problem of A38 noise, which will hopefully mark a welcome and big step towards tackling the issue in one of its hotspots: Alfreton. Highways England recently carried out a site visit to analyse the potential design and construction of noise barriers near the A38 at Alfreton. This site is recognised as a noise important area and an initial feasibility study has supported the recommendation that a noise barrier is the most effective treatment to reduce noise levels at this location.

As a result of the visit, I’m pleased that Highways England are now drawing up plans for the new noise barriers, with construction expected to start during the 2018/2019 financial year – subject to the availability of funding and road space.

This is a welcome step to solve this long-running problem in one of the areas most affected, and I will keep you updated as their plans progress. I will also, of course, continue to campaign for some of the other areas affected, such as Ripley and Coxbench, to also benefit from measures to alleviate the problem.

HS2:

The HS2 Act recently received Royal Assent, which paves the way for a new railway line, from London to Birmingham, that will increase capacity on our railways, connect our biggest cities, and generate jobs and economic growth.

The final route for the second phase of HS2, through the Midlands, was also recently confirmed. I’m pleased that the track has been moved closer to the M1 and will include a spur line at Chesterfield. I understand there remain concerns about the project, and although the track won’t pass through Amber Valley, I will be campaigning to ensure easy local access for constituents to the High Speed Rail services.

Education:

I’m pleased the Education Secretary has announced an additional £1.3billion for schools funding over two years – helping to create more good school places in Amber Valley.

I am also reassured that this Government has promised every local authority will see a rise in its per pupil funding for schools as a result of new National Funding Formula. This will be introduced in 2018, ending the unfair postcode lottery system and providing at least a 0.5% a year per pupil cash increase for every school in 2018-19 and 2019-20.

NHS Funding:

This Government recently announced NHS capital funding for Derbyshire under the Sustainability and Transformation Plans. I am pleased that between £10 million and £30 million will be invested to improve health and care services across Derbyshire, with a large share of the money focused on expanding the emergency department at Royal Derby Hospital, which will create space for 37 additional minor injury beds, 10 emergency bays and additional resuscitation facilities.

This extra funding will also allow Derby Royal to redesign their layout so that mental health assessment, GP care and out of hours services can all be housed in one place. £5m – £10m will pay for a new, integrated facility that will bring community services, outpatient clinics, testing and diagnostics and specialist rehab services together in one place. I welcome this investment to help improve NHS services in Derbyshire which serve many Amber Valley residents.

In Parliament:

Job Centres:

The Department of Work and Pensions recently announced changes to the locations and services offered by some Jobcentre’s in the UK. Amber Valley’s local Jobcentre Plus’, in Alfreton, Heanor and Belper, will all be retained, but I used the opportunity of the debate on the changes to ask the Secretary of State to consider the important outreach role jobcentre staff can perform out of jobcentres, by visiting places such as food banks, to ensure people know how to, and what they are entitled to, claim. I’m pleased that the Minister supports this extension of jobcentres, and you can find the full debate here.

Taylor Review:

Following the publication of the independent Taylor Review of modern working practices, which you can read more about here, the Government is now looking at the recommendations made so that the points raised can be included in the Industrial Strategy. As part of the debate in the House on this, I raised the issue of ensuring that the line is clearly drawn between workers who are really employed rather than those who are self-employed. The Minister agreed that the Government will carefully consult on this issue, to ensure workers and employees have access to their proper rights.

Adult Social Care – CQC inspections:

During a recent debate on adult social care funding, I highlighted the important role of the CQC, and their inspections of struggling care homes, to ensure that standards are improved. The CQC regularly inspect care homes across Amber Valley to ensure that services are of the highest possible standard and, if there are any problems, follow-up inspections and measures are quickly introduced. You can read the wider debate on adult social care funding here.

Column:

You can find my latest Ripley & Heanor column, looking at the additional education and NHS funding announcements, here.

Street Watch:

As always, if there are any street repairs in your area, such as potholes, pavement repairs or broken street lights, you can report these issues and concerns to me quickly and easily here so I can ask for the repairs to be investigated and addressed.

Supermarket Surgeries:

Over the summer recess, I’m holding several supermarket surgeries at Asda, Sainsburys and Tescos to give constituents the opportunity to raise any issues or concerns they have. I’ve already held a surgery at Sainsburys in Ripley, but my next pop-up surgery will be at Tesco’s in Heanor on the 10th August 2017 from 10.30am to 11.30am. Please do come and say hello!

Surgeries: