As part of my continuing education of the Armed Forces through the excellent Parliamentary Scheme, I was invited to spend Monday at RAF Fylingdales near Whitby, right in the middle of the North York Moors and National Park. The radar station is fascinating, and it was a pleasure to meet some of the RAF's space management experts, monitoring airspace and working with the USA to protect us from missile threat.
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Back on the ground, I met with the Banks Mining team again, who keep me regularly updated on their mining operations across Northumberland. I was also able to welcome the prison governor from HMP Northumberland to The House of Commons, to introduce him to my fellow Northumbrian MPs. As a recently privatised prison, there has been a good deal of change & anxiety, and I want to build bridges so that the new Sodexo team can make best progress on inproving the working prison model, which aims to reduce re-offending through work skills.
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The Airport Operators Association held its annual dinner to which I was kindly invited. I have been working with Newcastle Airport for many years on the question of APD taxes which have a power drag effect on regional airports. It was interesting to meet with airline leaders from across Europe and hear their thoughts on the potential outcome of the forthcoming EU Referendum. Mixed views as ever!
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I met with the North East Schools Commissioner, who oversees the academies in our region. As a longstanding governor of Berwick Academy, and a supporter of freeing good schools to determine their direction free from local authority control, we talked in depth about the challenges of our many very small schools. I explained that I continue to be actively pushing for Government to sort out the funding formula to make it fair for all children. At present, Northumberland's schools get hundreds of pounds per year less than many other counties. I am pleased that the Secretary of State for Education is actively looking at a new national funding formula which would help Northumberland.
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My daughter got confirmed this weekend, so we had a wonderful family gathering for this important stepping stone to adulthood. Stopping my continuous & frenetic day-to-day political activity to contemplate the bigger picture is very good for the health. And I am officially a very proud Mum.
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