rory stewart mp

Rory  has welcomed news that seven NHS hospital Trusts which face serious structural financial issues may receive additional support from the Department of Health.  The trusts, among them NCUH NHS Trust at the Cumberland Infirmary,  must demonstrate that they meet four key tests.  This follows a meeting he brokered for  Secretary of State Andrew Lansley when he visited Carlisle in December. The Health Secretary was briefed on PFI problems.

In October 2012 Mr Lansley announced  that the Department of Health would provide ongoing support to a small number of NHS Trusts with historic Private Finance Initiative (PFI) arrangements , but which were unable to demonstrate the necessary long-term financial viability.

To meet the criteria for such support, a shortlist of affected Trusts would need to demonstrate that they had met four key tests:

• The problems they face should be exceptional and beyond those faced by other organisations;

• They must be able to show that the problems they face are historic, and that they have a clear plan to manage their resources in the future;

• They must show that they are delivering high levels of annual productivity savings;

• They must deliver clinically viable, high quality services, including delivering low waiting times and other performance measures.

Rory said: "Labour left some parts of the NHS with a dismal legacy of PFI, and made them rely on unworkable plans for the future. They swept these problems under the carpet for a decade, and left us with a £60 billion post-dated PFI cheque to deal with. These issues have compounded what are critical times for the Cumberland Infirmary, and I welcome any steps that the Secretary of State can take in helping to put the Trust on a more secure financial footing, which is imperative if it is to be a given a chance to recover and thrive as an excellent clinical provider for Cumbria."

Secretary of State Andrew Lansley said: “The NHS is delivering great results for patients but we know that a small number of NHS Trusts with PFI arrangements have historic problems relating to these arrangements that make it very difficult for them to manage financially. This move is the latest stage in a programme of work we began in 2010 to identify and tackle financial problems at local level in the NHS. In the past, local Trusts have received extra funding on the quiet in order to avoid embarrassment. We have already signalled that we are determined to end these backroom deals by bringing greater transparency and openness to the process."

“We need to balance the accountability of the NHS at local level to live within its means on one hand, with recognising that there is a legacy of debt for some Trusts with PFI schemes. And we need to be certain that those NHS Trusts that face historic financial problems are not taking their eye off the most important issue of all – maintaining and improving their frontline patient care.”

Cumbria is home to around a million ewes - more than in any other area in England - and its farmers stand to benefit most from an increase in exports. In the beef sector, export demand is in low value products currently a waste cost to processors – which, if sold abroad, could fetch £100 per animal.

Rory has been lobbying the government to put more resources into opening export markets for beef and sheep. In June, he called upon the Minister, Jim Paice, to 'invest' in exports and our embassies to 'get the best deal possible for British farmers' and he recently wrote to the Minister urging him to publish a plan for exports.

Rory said:

"This action plan is a great start to 2012 for our farmers, who are struggling despite the massive growth in demand for meat in emerging economies.

I want 2012 to be the year of exports. I will be working closely with the Minister, Jim Paice, UKTI, UKECP and the FCO to open the major markets outside the EU, like Russia, China, and the Middle East, which require bilaterally agreed export health certificates for sheep and cattle.

I want to see UK ambassadors around the world pushing British farm exports at the highest level and dedicated agriculture secretaries posted to our most important markets.

The UK has the potential to be one of the biggest global exporters of sheep, with Cumbria's farmers benefiting the most. We already have one of the most efficient sheep industries in the world and demand in places like China is almost unlimited. Boosting our farm exports will improve the UK's trade balance and greatly increase to the
profitability of many Cumbrian farms."

Rory’s vision for Cumbrian exports recalls the buccaneering enterprise of Britain’s trading past .

In a speech in the House of Commons on 8 February 2012, Rory emphasised the diversity of Cumbria's exports as a model for Britain.  He called on the UK government to look at "unexpected countries and unexpected products."

This requires, he said, a transformation in the drive, leadership and imagination of embassies: "We in Britain should look back not at our Victorian past but at our Elizabethan past, when a buccaneering, trading, earring-wearing rogue state took its goods all the way around the world."

He paid tribute to local companies like Innovia in Wigton, Steadmans in Warnell, and Bonds of Alston, and ended his speech with a plea to UKTI and the Foreign Office to focus efforts on opening Middle Eastern markets to British meat exports. He said that "the Arab appetite for sheep is almost unstoppable" and called for embassies to work with Middle Eastern governments to obtain the necessary health certificates on behalf of British sheep exporters.

Rory  held the second meeting of his forestry and woodlands advisory group last Friday 20th February, attended by representatives from public and private sector organisations, including the Forestry Commission, the Friends of the Lake District, Natural England, the University of Cumbria, the National Trust, and the processing industry.

The discussion covered the Independent Forestry Panel's interim report, an overview of the processing sector from industry representatives, examples of community-led solutions to managing woodland being piloted by the National Trust, forestry education issues, and forestry within the context of land-management. The group will continue to meet in the lead up to the Independent Forestry Panel's final report, which is expected to be presented to DEFRA in May 2012.

Rory said: "I feel very privileged indeed to have such a knowledgeable and thoughtful group representing a real cross-section of interests related to our forestry and woodlands, all feeding in to a comprehensive constituency response to the panel's report. We had a valuable discussion today, covering an enormously varied selection of issues relating to our forests and woods: from the processing industry, to ecological and farming issues, to community benefits and the importance of preserving our landscape. I am confident that we will be able to formulate a powerful response to the report that will stand us in good stead ahead of any future policy changes suggested by Defra, and ensure that we get the best possible outcome for Penrith and the Border."

Rory  met and chatted with almost twenty small businesses from his constituency last Friday at an event organised by the Federation of Small Businesses, and pledged his support for small businesses by signing up to the FSB's new campaign championing ‘Real-Life Entrepreneurs’. Businesses attending included Love Solar, Dodd and Co accountants, Maureen Whitemore Interior Design, Ling Joinery, Appleby Manor Hotel, Dipper Foods and Out of Eden.

At the meeting - hosted by Dodds Accountants in Penrith - Rory listened to discussion on the issues affecting small businesses in his constituency, and offered his support to help the FSB press for an enterprise-friendly economy. Topics raised included access to credit, burdensome rules and regulations, employment and apprenticeship issues, and the state of the national economy.

Rory said: "The reality is that there is no template small Cumbrian business, and Penrith and the Border is a record-breaking constituency in this respect, with a higher number of small businesses, self-employed people, and businesses employing less than ten people than any other part of England. If we are looking for a recipe for economic recovery, it is small businesses that have the solution. We could solve the unemployment problem overnight if every small business could take on just one employee each. Large businesses might be less vulnerable, but it is micro-businesses such as those gathered here today who will drive the future of national economic recovery."

Gary Lovatt, FSB Regional Chairman said: “We are grateful to Rory Stewart for meeting with FSB members and pledging to try to support them.  Members had a number of concerns around access to finance, regulations and taxation which Mr Stewart was very interested to hear about.”

Rory has established and held an inaugural meeting of an 'uplands advisory group' to ensure the concerns of Cumbrian hill farmers are heard in Westminster. The group will serve as a sounding board and policy guide to the local MP, who has already established Young Farmers' and Dairy advisory groups. The meeting, chaired by Mervyn Edwards of the Cumbria Hill Farming Discussion Group, was attended also by members of the Lakeland Discussion Group and Will Cockbain of the NFU and Natural England. Farmers present represented hill-farms from near Hesket Newmarket, Kirkoswald, Haweswater, Skelton, Kirkby Stephen and Greystoke, and the discussion focused on CAP reform 2013, agri-environment schemes, the importance of sustainable employment in the uplands, and the potential for expanded export markets for sheep.

Rory said: "The Cumbrian uplands require a clear voice in Parliament: Cumbrian uplands require unique policy solutions, different regulations, and the need for a strong advocate in Westminster. Penrith and the Border is, statistically, the 'number one' uplands constituency in England, and I feel it a proud duty to be able to represent hill farmers' needs in Parliament. We need to fight very hard to preserve our landscape in the Lake District, which has been shaped, formed and protected by our uplands communities for years. I am delighted to have such a strong group of hill farmers to advise me on these issues, and look forward to regular meetings ahead."

Rory and County Councillor Helen Fearon received an undertaking on Friday that the problems at Kemplay roundabout would be solved. The meeting was attended by representatives of both Cumbria Highways and the Highways Agency, which is responsible for the roundabout, with discussions focusing on issues of road markings, traffic signs, and the phasing of traffic signals. 

Rory said: "We had a very positive and fruitful meeting today in response to the many complaints from residents and those using the roundabout regularly. We are enormously grateful to the Highways Agency for attending and for listening to the issues raised. They responded very positively, and I can confirm that we have obtained their commitment to look at improving line delineation and destination markings, and the traffic signal sequences are being re-examined also. We will watch closely in the coming weeks to see how matters improve, and I am extremely encouraged that the Highways Agency have taken the suggestions of local residents, Cumbria Highways Officers and Councillor Helen Fearon on board .  It is great that we are working together on this in an open and productive fashion."

Councillor Helen Fearon said:  " Prior to this meeting I received many suggestions for improvements to the roundabout from local residents who use it on a regular basis and I am delighted that these received such a positive response from the Highways Agency.  Agreement was reached on a number of potential improvements, particularly about guidance to drivers concerning their choice of traffic lanes and general routeing through the roundabout. I look forward to those improvements materialising so that drivers will find their use of Kemplay Bank less difficult and troublesome."

Rory  is "delighted" to be judging the final of the 'Leading Hotels of Cumbria Young Chef Competition' at Augill Castle, Kirkby Stephen on 4th February. Local schoolgirls Fiona Lambert and Bethany Woof, both from Kirkby Stephen Grammar School, are preparing to go head to head in the final stage of the competition, hosted and sponsored by Simon and Wendy Bennett of Augill Castle. The aim of the event is to help raise aspirations and awareness of training and career opportunities in the food industry, whilst inspiring and
engaging talented young people to retain their skills in Cumbria.

Fiona and Bethany have already completed four rigorous rounds of testing, competing against other Year 9/10 pupils (14/15 year olds) from the three schools involved - Appleby Grammar School, Kirkby
Stephen Grammar School and Ullswater Community College.

Rory said: “I am very much looking forward to judging this event. It is fantastic to see so many talented and enthusiastic individuals from our region taking up this important opportunity, and to see local businesspeople taking the initiative in highlighting the importance of apprenticeships in the hospitality industry, which is the backbone of our tourism industry. Fiona and Bethany should feel very proud of themselves for getting this far, and I am looking forward to sampling their cooking, and the
exciting results.”

For the final heat the girls will be cooking a three course meal of their choice for four people with a budget of £20. Families and friends will also be able to attend. The final competition winner will land the title of ‘The Leading Hotels of Cumbria Young Chef 2012’, along with a summer placement at the multi-award winning Gilpin Lodge Hotel, a full set of chef’s whites and a competition trophy.

Both Fiona and Bethany will receive a goody bag and a full set of chef’s knives for their excellent culinary efforts.

Cumbria Tourism Chairman Eric Robson, one of the competition’s judges, said: “The girls have done a fantastic job and I hope they have enjoyed themselves – the judges certainly have enjoyed sampling their
efforts! I hope this experience inspires other young people to get involved in next year’s competition.”

The competition is sponsored by six award-winning Cumbrian hotels, all of which are passionate about what they do: Augill Castle (lead sponsors), based near Kirkby Stephen, The Cottage in the Wood near Keswick, Gilpin Lodge in Windermere, Lovelady Shield Country House Hotel in Alston, Overwater Hall near Ireby and Temple Sowerby Country House Hotel near Penrith.

Wendy Bennett, lead sponsor of the competition from Augill Castle said: “Although only in its first year, the competition has been a real success and it’s been great fun to be a part of it. We hope this experience will encourage all participants to consider careers in some of Cumbria’s best kitchens.”

Next year’s Leading Hotels of Cumbria Young Chef Competition is due to kick off very soon and it is hoped will be extended to South Lakeland Schools.