Welcoming focus on science in the Industrial Strategy

I spoke in the House of Commons expressing my support for the importance being placed on science investment and skills development in the Government's new industrial strategy 'green paper.'

I asked the Secretary of State for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to seize the moment and make the case across Government for increasing spending on science and technology to 3% of GDP. Many of our competitor nations across the world have made a similar commitment and Parliament's cross-party Science and Technology Committee, which I chair, has called for this to happen in our country.

I also urged the Minister to publish the Government's digital strategy, which again forms an important part of the new industrial strategy.

Watch a recording of my exchange with the Minister below:

Questioning the Housing Minister about Dunton Garden Village plans

Following the announcement earlier this month of plans to develop a new garden village in Dunton Hills, I raised my concerns to the Housing Minister that he was not doing enough to consult neighbouring councils.

It is important that the Housing Minister consults more local councils on schemes like the Dunton Garden Village, as although the proposed garden village is formally attached to Brentwood Borough Council, it might actually have a greater effect on the Basildon and Thurrock area.

As the plans currently stand, the development would be built right next to Basildon and West Horndon. Many local residents are rightly concerned about new developments on green belt land and their voices should be heard in the ongoing process.

Through my Parliamentary question I suggested the Minister contact Basildon and Thurrock councils as a matter of urgency to gain their views on the new garden village.

I was pleased that he said he would make more information available and he confirmed that the plans have not yet been finalised.

You can watch a recording of my exchange with the Housing Minister here.

Chairing my first Science and Technology Committee meeting

Today I was pleased to chair my first Science and Technology Committee meeting in Parliament since being elected to the role last week.

We asked Government ministers and a department official about the implications and opportunities for science and research following the vote to leave the European Union.

You can watch a recording of the meeting below:

Elected as Chair of the Science and Technology Committee

I was delighted to be elected as the new Chair of the Science and Technology Committee in Parliament last week.

The cross-party Science and Technology Committee exists to ensure that Government policy and decision-making is based on good scientific and engineering advice and evidence. I served as a member of the Committee for the whole of the last Parliament, from 2010 to 2015.

We're living through a terrific period of technological change, so it is very exciting to be scrutinising Government policy in this area.

As Chair I will be focused on ensuring the Government does all it can to maintain the UK's status as a science superpower during the uncertain times ahead. And as a Committee we will continue to champion evidence-based policy making.

Asking about the political situation in Iraq

I asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Iraqi and other international counterparts on the political situation in Iraq.

In particular I highlighted the important role of the Kurdistan regional government and how it has been short-changed by the national Government in Baghdad. My argument was that Iraqi federalism needs to be genuine, with reliable revenue sharing.

I was pleased to hear that the UK Government recognises the work of the Kurdish peshmerga in fighting Daesh and also that the Government sees how crucial it is for Iraq to be properly united.

You can watch our exchange below via Parliamentlive.tv:

Asking for an update on the Pension Protection Fund cap

I asked the Pensions Minister from the Department for Work and Pensions what the Government is doing to protect the pensions of long-serving employees.

Specifically, I asked for an update on when the Government plans to raise the Pension Protection Fund cap after the policy was announced in the Pensions Act 2014.

I was pleased to hear that the long service cap will come into force in April 2017 and look forward to seeing it benefit pensioners in South Basildon and East Thurrock and also the country as a whole.

You can watch our exchange via Parliamentlive.tv in the clip below: