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Chris's Blog
18 AUG 2010
Meeting the challenge of welfare reform
This week's article for the Observer outlines my thinking on welfare reform. I'd be interested to hear what you think - get in touch using the comments thread below.
One of the big issues that has been raised in the past few days is that of welfare reform.
The statistics themselves make for grim reading. Around five million people are currently on out of work benefits, nearly one and a half million of whom have been receiving these benefits for nine or more of the last ten years. Two million children are presently in households were no-one is in work. The cost of the entire system has risen by over £20 billion over the course of the last thirteen years.
For welfare reform to be effective, we must of course ensure that there are opportunities available for people to get back into the workplace. Only last week I was on BBC West Midlands welcoming falling unemployment in Warwick and Leamington - but also sounding a note of caution, as it is clear that the future is far from certain. Bringing jobs back to the constituency is one of the key aims of my work as your Member of Parliament and it will continue to be one of my top priorities.
The issue of welfare reform is a challenge for the Coalition, and I believe the government is taking the right approach by seeking to deal with this problem head on. At present our tax and benefit system is far too complicated. Fundamental structural reform is necessary, integrating current income-related benefits and tax credits so that households see the benefit of taking work and so that we can break the culture of dependency.
However, there must be a balance and we must ensure the reformed system is fair to vulnerable people, and that no-one is left behind.
It is also time to look again at the conditionality of benefits. At present, some people are being asked to run before they can walk, being forced to look for full-time work when it may be better for them to get part-time work in order to get a foot on the ladder. Equally, some people are given little financial incentive to work extra hours.
Reform is going to require the Government to make tough choices but if successful it will bring a huge amount of benefit to millions of people across the country. Most people are eager to work and want a system that supports them in that. I am confident that we are on the road to creating that system.
13 AUG 2010
Local charities and voluntary groups
For this week's "Westminster Briefing" in the Courier I have chosen to write about charities and voluntary groups - an area I have a particular commitment to in Parliament and in the constituency.
I was impressed - but not surprised - to learn at a recent briefing from the Charity Commission that Warwick and Leamington is home to over 300 registered charities.
It is a real testament to our community that so many residents invest their time and effort in helping others, and I know from my own experience that the charity sector in the local area thrives because of the passion and commitment of local people.
The Prime Minister's vision of a ‘Big Society' - empowering local communities, transferring power from the centre to local people and supporting voluntary groups, charities and social enterprises - is one that I wholeheartedly support. The Private Member's Bill that I have introduced - designed to support social enterprise and put ‘social value' at the heart of public sector commissioning - is very much aimed at supporting the charity and voluntary sector.
It is crucial, however, that the ‘Big Society' is built from the ground up, rather than imposed from Westminster - and I am keen to engage local charities and community groups to make sure that their views are represented, so that their knowledge and experience can be harnessed as we bring about reform.
Over the coming weeks I will be visiting and speaking to as many charities and groups in the constituency as possible - both large and small, national and local. So far I have visits planned to Myton Hospice, the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, Deaf-initely Independent, Forces Help, British Blind Sport, Safeline, the St John's Ambulance, the Warwickshire Association for the Blind, and many more.
While the Big Society is a vision for empowering communities here at home, there are also many charities doing extraordinary work abroad to help build communities and improve the lives of millions of the world's most disadvantaged people. We have two examples locally - CORD and BasicNeeds - and I will be working closely with them to find out how they could be better supported.
If you are involved with a charity or community group that I haven't yet visited, or if you have an idea for a charity or social enterprise that you believe would be an asset to our community, please do not hesitate to get in touch at chris.white.mp@parliament.uk or 020 7219 7201.
05 AUG 2010
A typical Friday
Today I have written for the Observer about the constituency side of the work of an MP.
Now that Parliament is in recess, I am looking forward to spending the next month or so at home in the constituency visiting as many businesses, voluntary groups and other organisations as possible. It is also a good opportunity to review and progress the casework I have taken on in the last twelve weeks - during which I have met with over 120 residents at my regular constituency surgeries about problems or issues that they are confronted with.
The constituency side of the work of a Member of Parliament often goes under-reported, but for me it is one of the most important parts of the job. My typical working week sees me attending a meeting or visit on Monday morning before travelling down to arrive in London in the early afternoon. I spend Monday to Thursday in the House, regularly until 10pm where there is often a late vote, and travel back late on Thursday evening for a fully packed weekend of constituency work.
Last week was fairly typical. On Friday I visited the Mayday Trust in Leamington, and had a useful and enjoyable discussion with staff and residents about the Big Society and Iain Duncan-Smith's newly-announced welfare reforms. From there I went straight to Leamington Fire Station for a meeting with Graeme Smith, the Chief Fire Officer. In the wake of last week's County Council decision to close Warwick Fire Station - something I have fiercely opposed - I wanted to meet with Graeme to make sure there was a plan of action as to how the impact of the closure on our community would be minimised (particularly with regards to the Warwick Young Fire Fighters and making sure that the retained fire-fighters are supported). I then visited the Warwickshire Association of Youth Clubs - an organisation I have long been involved with and am now keen to support and promote as a Member of Parliament.
In the afternoon I dropped in to Croft Medical Centre in Calder Walk to meet with the GPs to talk about issues affecting their surgery and the provision of care for their patients; and went from there to a meeting with Paul Urmston from ESHWorks to learn about the excellent work that his team does, supporting people who have problems with alcohol and drugs and their carers.
After a day crammed full of visits I held my surgery in Warwick - with constituents raising a variety of issues from problem with housing to incorrect birth certificates - and exchanged contracts with my new member of staff, Zoe Parkin, who will be helping me with constituency casework from my new Leamington office from September.
After another constituency surgery at the Old Library in Leamington on Saturday and a couple more visits and meetings, I was able to settle down to catch up with some correspondence and take stock before the beginning of another week.
I hope that we will meet over the summer. If you would like to book a surgery appointment over the next month please do not hesitate to contact me at chris.white.mp@parliament.uk or on 020 7219 7201.
30 JUL 2010
Time to reflect
With the start of the parliamentary recess, I have used my column in this week's Courier to reflect on my experiences as Warwick and Leamington's new MP so far.
This week marks the beginning of the parliamentary recess, and with only twelve weeks since the General Election, I have been reflecting on my experiences as Warwick and Leamington's new Member of Parliament.
Learning the ropes of any new job is an exciting experience and it is fair to say that the last three months have been something of a learning curve!
In the constituency, I have attended nearly 60 meetings and events and have held two constituency surgeries per week since the election. More than 100 constituents have attended - and I am getting to grips with some of the problems and concerns that have been raised. This has given me an opportunity to gain knowledge on a vast array of subjects and I have had to learn quickly how to work with a wide range of government agencies and bureaucracies. I always say that I can never promise to solve a problem but it is incredible what can be achieved with quick action and detailed attention, and these have led to some early successes.
I've also had to get to learn my way around Parliament which has given me great opportunities to advance the causes of local residents. In the Chamber, I have made my maiden speech on tackling poverty and creating jobs in order to break welfare dependency; I have met with several Ministers about issues affecting the constituency; spoken out about the need for local authorities to listen to residents and swiftly replace Regional Spatial Strategies and highlighted the necessity of speeding up economic development in the world's poorest countries. In my first few weeks I was fortunate enough to not only get the chance to put forward a new bill on public services and social enterprises but also to be elected onto the International Development Select Committee. But, this is only the beginning, and I will be speaking out on many more issues affecting residents in the months and years ahead.
I am now looking forward to using my time in Warwick and Leamington over the summer to visit as many businesses, voluntary groups and other organisations as possible and to continue to work on the many issues that I am currently involved with. If you would like to get in touch, or arrange a surgery appointment, please do not hesitate to contact me on 020 7219 7201 or by email at chris.white.mp@parliament.uk.
26 JUL 2010
Second Energy Forum meeting
Yesterday I chaired the second meeting of the Warwick and Leamington Energy Forum - a group of energy companies, educational institutions and local voluntary organisations that are working together to promote the local Energy industry.
We are aiming to hold a ‘showcase' event later this year - designed to promote the sector as a key part of the local economy, and also to appeal to schools to help young people become more aware of the wide range of exciting career opportunities that are available to them.
The aim of the Energy Forum is to enable companies, voluntary organisations and skills providers to work together to maximise Warwick and Leamington's potential in this area. This showcase event will be an opportunity for new energy efficient products to be demonstrated both to members of the public and to other companies and organisations.
The Energy sector is wide and varied - from domestic heating and cooking, to large-scale power transmission and distribution - and companies in Warwick and Leamington have a wealth of experience and knowledge in this area.
We also hope to use this event to encourage more young people to consider jobs in the energy industry as a career. With excellent local schools, Warwickshire College and the University of Warwick on our doorstep, our area is well-placed to provide the skills training that could enable Warwick and Leamington to become known as a centre of the UK energy industry.
23 JUL 2010
UK Youth Parliament to sit in the House of Commons chamber
This week Parliament voted to allow the UK Youth Parliament to sit in the House of Commons Chamber - a move I fully support. In this week's Observer column I explain why.
On Tuesday night MPs debated a motion that would allow the UK Youth Parliament to use the House of Commons Chamber once a year for the duration of this Parliament.
For hundreds of young people around the country, this is an important week. Every year, more than a million young people aged between 11 and 18 vote in schools and colleges across the UK to elect 600 Members of the Youth Parliament (MYPs).
Once elected, MYPs organise events and projects in their local communities, run campaigns and lobby decision-makers at all levels of government about the issues that are most important to young people.
Last October, more than 300 MYPs were given the opportunity to hold a debate of their own in the House of Commons Chamber in a one-off, unprecedented event that constituted the first time - ever - that the Chamber had been used by anyone other than MPs. The motion debated this week seeks to establish this arrangement for the duration of the current Parliament - a move I fully support.
The UK Youth Parliament introduces the concepts of voting, representation and accountability to young people at an early age, encourages them to take a stake in our communities, and - it is hoped - inspires them to develop this interest in democracy and representation through into later life.
I recognise from my own experience working with Warwick District's former MYP, Ben Wesson, the extraordinary passion and commitment that the young people who take part show - and I can think of no more fitting way to recognise their contribution than by allowing them to raise their issues in the greatest symbol of our national democracy. I look forward to working with this year's MYPs and building a similar relationship.
As Warwick and Leamington's MP I aim to do as much as I can to encourage young people in the constituency to get involved in the political process. Since the General Election there has been much talk of the need for a ‘new politics' - and I see engaging young people in our democracy as a vital part of this agenda. The UK Youth Parliament is an excellent place to start.
For more information about the UK Youth Parliament, readers can visit www.ukyouthparliament.org.uk
21 JUL 2010
"Green Growth" conference
Today I participated in a conference at Aston University to launch their new Centre for Europe. At the event, entitled "Green Growth: creating jobs and sustainable prosperity", I spoke about the need to ensure that there was suitable government investment in, and strong incentives for, business to invest in green technology.
I believe that this constituency has fantastic potential to be a green hub for the coming decades. The green economy is already worth over £100 billion today and could bring hundreds of jobs to the area and that is why I am keen to promote Warwick and Leamington at the top table.
This is why I am working with local energy companies, Warwickshire College and Warwick University to make sure that we are well placed for future green development. However we have to be ambitious about attracting new companies and investors into the constituency and I will do everything I can to get Warwick and Leamington noticed.
20 JUL 2010
Meeting Bill Gates
Today I and other members of the International Development Select Committee met with Bill Gates as part of his visit to address Parliament. We had an interesting and useful discussion about challenges for the future, and it was a pleasure to meet him and hear him share some of his experience from the work of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In particular, he praised the govenrment's pledge to spend 0.7% of its income on international aid by 2013 and was adamant in his view that 2010 is going to be a decisive year for international development policy.
20 JUL 2010
The County Council has made the wrong decision
I have just learned of the outcome of the County Council's vote on Fire Stations. The County Council has, in my view, made the wrong decision for Warwick and its residents. I have been campaigning against these proposals for over a year now and I know that the whole community is against this. We could not have made our case any clearer. People will, rightly, be very angry that the Council has not listened.
14 JUL 2010
International Development
This week I have written for the Courier about my role on the International Development Select Committee.
One of the most important roles of Parliament is scrutiny and I am fortunate that recently my fellow MPs elected me onto the International Development Select Committee.
The Committee's main job is to hold the Department for International Development to account, ensuring that we use our resources in a way that helps as many people across the world as possible while at the same time making sure that taxpayers' money is used effectively.
This is an issue I care passionately about and I am pleased that the Coalition Government has taken the early decision to honour our international aid commitments despite the current economic climate.
British Governments have consistently been recognised as leaders in international aid and now we are set to meet our target of spending 0.7% of our Gross National Income (GNI) on international aid by 2013.
As we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the iconic ‘Live-Aid' event, which engaged hundreds of millions of people on global poverty, the time has come for us to fulfil our moral duty, not only to help the most vulnerable in our own society, but to the most vulnerable across the world.
There are also clear global benefits in ensuring the economic, political and social development of poorer countries across the world.
We are a trading nation and we are particularly dependent on international trade. Over the past ten years, 30% of our economic growth was dependent on increases in global demand. As we seek to recover from the world recession, we need to ensure that the global economy picks up and use our aid to help developing countries get back on their feet.
Faster economic progress in the developing world will lift more people out of poverty and will do so more quickly than merely aid on its own. Moreover, trade promotes peace and reduces the risk of conflict.
We must not allow what could amount to hundreds of millions of pounds to be wasted each year through corruption and needless bureaucracy. We need to involve more voluntary organisations in the delivery of aid, so that the people on the ground receive as much benefit as possible.
Given our financial situation, there has never been a better time for us to reform the way that we deliver aid and this week I want to press the Secretary of State to make the most of this opportunity.
Chris White MP
Welcome to my blog, where you can read about what I’ve been doing on your behalf - both in Westminster and in the constituency. Your comments are always welcome!
