Freedom to Pray

In light of the recent judicial decision to ban prayers at the start of council meetings in Bideford, I welcome the announcement today by the Secretary of State, Eric Pickles, to fast track a new general power of competence in the Localism Act. This remarkable new power enables councils to do anything that an individual in society can do unless it is specifically prohibited by law.

This includes the freedom to pray and hold prayers at the start of council meetings, should any council wish to do so. I was surprised and disappointed at the recent High Court ruling, and do not feel it was ever the intention of Parliament to prohibit council prayers when it passed the Local Government Act in 1972. Indeed, prayers are a common-day practice dating back many centuries and part of the historical fabric of council proceedings.

As a committed Christian myself, my faith informs my approach to public life. I and like-minded colleagues always start every day in the House of Commons with prayer, something that I always find to be a refreshing preparation for - and complement to - my duties, never a distraction from them.

I am pleased local councils will continue to enjoy moments of quiet religious reflection at the beginning of their meetings, should they so wish.

Support for Small Businesses

This week, the Government has demonstrated it is honouring its commitment to helping small businesses through the launch of the 'Business in You' campaign. The focus of the campaign is on inspiring individuals with business ambitions to pursue them, and also to draw attention to the support available for growing enterprises.

It is right that we should be doing everything we can to support small businesses in these tough economic times. Some 95% of businesses in the UK are micro businesses; they are the lifeblood of the British economy. The Business Link site has been updated to offer advice to both new start ups and growing businesses, a new service called Mentors Me has been launched to connect small businesses with larger enterprises that can support growth and the Finance Fitness campaign will also provide guidance.

Business in You is more than just a Government campaign, and I welcome the support that major banks, Ernst and Young and Yell are all offering as part of this; including targeted assistance. Over the course of the year this is set to increase, including high profile entrepreneurs and corporate partners to highlight support available.

Salisbury has a number of thriving small businesses, and I hope many of them will be able to benefit from these new incentives.

Reflections on Daylight Saving

I was extremely disappointed with the outcome of Friday's debate. It is highly frustrating that a Bill with the support of around 120 MPs did not even make it to a vote because of the deliberate poor conduct of a number of honourable members. I was there throughout, until the end. It was truly outrageous that these five MPs worked assiduously to "talk out" the legislation on the spurious grounds of seeking to improve the Bill. Of course they wanted nothing of the sort and it is regrettable (to say the least) that they managed to thwart the will of so many people.

Along with a number of other MPs, I gave up a great deal of time on a day that I usually dedicate to the constituency. The time spent in the Chamber proved fruitless, thanks to the abuse of procedure that occurred. A Labour MP has already emailed us all to raise the whole issue of how Parliamentary procedures were used and how things can be reformed.

I will support any moves that I think will avoid this from happening again. I hope it will also interest you to know that I have passed my concerns about the fact an exceptionally popular bill fell foul of the system to the Speaker; the first time I have done so in my time as an MP. I have no doubt that I am not alone in my concerns either.

I firmly believe that all my constituents need to have faith that when they campaign for change on a matter, their voices are heard. Events like this shake the faith people have in Parliamentary procedures, and make a mockery of Private Members' Bills. However, I hope that some good will come of this and provoke change for the better.

Despite the negativity of those who opposed the Bill on Friday, I know Rebecca Harris MP and Lighter Later both remain extremely optimistic and have committed to seeing the Bill return, either by persuading the Government to take up the legislation or lobbying for additional parliamentary time. I would like to reassure you that, whatever course it takes, I will remain firmly committed to supporting this highly worthwhile campaign, and to pressing for change to the system so this scandal is never repeated. In my mind, it is imperative this Bill is given more time, so it can be given the just hearing it fully deserves. 

Prime Minister's Veto on Europe

I was present in the House of Commons today for the Prime Minister's statement on last week's events in Europe and the decisions taken at the summit over the weekend. I want to offer my perspective on what happened and explain why I feel we can be confident in the leadership the Prime Minister is showing on Europe.

Decisions taken at the summit

The Prime Minister went to Brussels last week with a constructive approach to the negotiating table. He rightly recognised that sorting out the Eurozone crisis is a priority for Britain: over 40% of our trade is with Europe and therefore ongoing uncertainty over the debt crisis does not help our own prospects for economic recovery. So, against the public advice of some, the PM did not opportunistically seek to gain "out of scope" concessions in the Eurozone's hour of weakness.

Instead, what the Government wanted to do was to secure an "in principle" understanding from the Germans and French that, given a very large proportion of Europe's financial services industry is based in the City of London, the UK would need to have some acknowledgement of this in any 27-member Eurozone bail-out agreement. Unfortunately, these safeguards were not forthcoming from other leaders. David Cameron stood firm and did not sign up to something that could be so damaging for the UK economy. The concessions Britain sought were just too important for our national economic recovery to trade for the greater good of a currency system of which we are not a part.

British interests

The Prime Minister rightly judged that there can come a point where the gap between Britain's interests and those of the rest of Europe is too great. This is not surprising given the way we have not been part of the Euro or seeking a federal agenda. Nevertheless, the government does not wish to see the Euro fail in a disorderly fashion: it is in our interests to see confidence restored within the Eurozone so that trade and growth can be extended. Greater fiscal discipline will be key to achieving this and it remains to be seen whether this will be accomplished by the inter-governmental agreement that the 17+ countries signed up to on Friday.

The future of the international economy

What is clear is that the pattern of trade in the world is changing, and economic growth will increasingly come from outside Europe - from China, India, and Latin America in particular. The UK must continue look to the East and the South for growth in our future trading prospects, and not be preoccupied with those who seek a bureaucratic, inward-looking "United States of Europe".

The future for Europe

Over the past 72 hours I have received many emails praising the actions of the Prime Minister. I am greatly reassured both to hear these sentiments and by the action taken. However, the government now needs to articulate a clear sense of direction over the future relationship with our European neighbours. It is concerning that the 17 Eurozone countries could still develop an agenda that prejudices the interests of countries like the UK, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Hungary. We need to make sure that the vision we have for a multi-speed Europe, where we have unconstrained trade in a single market, is fully realised. We need constructive and sensible engagement in the national interest.

Isolation

Some have suggested that the Prime Minister's actions will leave us isolated in Europe. I do not agree. I believe Great Britain should be fully engaged in pursuing a trading relationship with our European neighbours. However I do not share a Franco-German federal vision which does not recognise the very real cultural gap that exists between countries like Portugal, Greece and Spain, and Northern European countries, both historically and in terms of political culture and economic pressures. Their vision does not recognise that the distinctive national histories and economic interests among EU member countries makes integration of many government functions both thoroughly undesirable and unnecessary.

Europe and the future of the coalition

Europe was always going to be a trying issue for coalition dynamics. The steady stream of commentary from the Liberal Democrats over the past three days has demonstrated this to be the case. The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, appears to have shifted his position no less than three times beginning with a calm acceptance of the decisions taken as "modest and reasonable" and ending with an apparent denouncement of the Prime Minister's decision, saying that he risks making Britain a "pygmy in the world". As the junior partner in a coalition, unrest amongst pro-European Liberal Democrats was always inevitable when it came to Europe. Regardless, I am pleased that the Prime Minister remains focussed on the economic interests of Britain. David Cameron has shown his willingness to do the right thing for Britain, promoting Britain's interests as the leader of a responsible, pragmatic coalition government. His decision last week was a bold and historic one but it was the right one and the only one in the circumstances he faced. 

Conference Reflections

As I travel back from a frenetic 48 hours in Manchester at the Conservative Party Conference, I reflect on the eighteen meetings I had with various charities, businesses and lobbyists all seeking to bend my ear on a matter close to their heart. Having been going to Conferences for 15 years, this one was probably the most sober and severe; reflecting the fact that the country faces many challenges and uncertainties at the current time.

The need for a robust and comprehensive solution from the Eurozone countries' leaders to deal with the debt crisis is complemented by an equally clear need for an improved economic horizon at home. Of course both are closely related, but Conference was nonetheless a serious business this year.

Nevertheless, I do detect a steely resolve from Ministers to tackle the issues head on, even if, as with the Home Secretary's remarks about the European Human Rights Act, there is not complete agreement amongst the coalition partners - or apparently with Ken Clark.

Personally, I do want to see human rights protected but I fail to see why the British Parliament is incapable of drawing up a British Bill of Rights that would achieve similar objectives, with anomalies like the cat problem and the right of prisoners to vote removed. I don't think these are rights that most of my constituents think are worth preserving!

Winterslow Calendar Girls

Yesterday afternoon I was proud to be able to support the launch of an unusual fundraising project when the Winterslow Calendar Girls officially launched their charity calendar yesterday at Salisbury Racecourse.

The work that these women have done to raise funds for the Salisbury District Hospital Breast Cancer unit for the community is outstanding – not to mention their willingness to bare (almost) all in a good cause.

I understand the project has not been without hitches – I hear Miss May fell off a racehorse whilst modelling and Miss November experienced a rather interesting incident involving three tanks driving past on Salisbury Plain – but I have nothing but admiration for the energy and humour surrounding the project. It has been backed to the hilt by local businesses and the result is a credit to the participants. I wish them every success in reaching their £11,000 target. 

Historic Amesbury: More than just Stonehenge!

Since his inauguration in May this year, Mayor of Amesbury, Andy Rhind-Tutt has been fervently campaigning to provide Amesbury with a boost through a historic rebranding. I am pleased to hear that he has now made great progress towards getting the town the recognition it deserves, and this Sunday celebrates some of the historic highlights in the Town's first Heritage Day .

The day is set to provide a benchmarking exercise for the Town through the participants with tours of the most significant sites that link Amesbury to life when England was still joined to the continent, English monarchs, Roman emperors and even the Beatles. Andy hopes to highlight on Sunday that the historic merit of the town extends far beyond Stonehenge by introducing people to its 'hidden heritage'.

Local tourism is something that benefits our economy substantially here in Wiltshire; I am pleased to see the project finally coming to fruition. I hope this scheme will encourage visitors to our beautiful area to explore more than just the traditional Cathedral, and provide Amesbury with a cultural regeneration that benefits the broader community as well.

For more details on the project, please contact Andy Rhind-Tutt at Amesbury Town Council.

SCRAP

Tony Langham has waged a determined campaign to rid Salisbury of plastic bags over several years. Last night, following the AGM of the local hospital, he invited me to attend a presentation by Roger Munford on the experience of Germany in driving forward packaging recycling over the past 20 years.

There are a number of lessons that can perhaps be applied to the UK's approach. I will be writing to DEFRA today to ask for a detailed examination of the "DSD experience" to determine how progress can be made on this matter. It is clear that boldness will be needed if we are going to remove the blight of unnecessary packaging and the consequent disposal problem – effective recycling on a bigger scale must be the sensible way forward. However, we also need to find a practical solution; one that is honest about the costs and legal barriers to implementing an effective policy change.

Salisbury District Hospital AGM

Last night I attended the AGM of Salisbury District Hospital in the Arts Centre, Salisbury. I was extremely impressed and proud to hear the formal report of the hospital's management on what has been achieved this past year. As the local MP I very rarely receive complaints about the performance of the hospital; indeed, the majority of my correspondence regarding Odstock is overwhelmingly positive. What was most impressive last night was to learn of the steps taken by Luke March, Peter Hill and the consultants and nurses to address any issues that have arisen.

Both the remarkable progress in improving the performance of The Farley Stroke Ward and the impact that the new paediatric facilities are having on the quality of the care offered for our community's children were most worthy of note. I do acknowledge the financial pressures that the hospital faces in driving forward with further efficiency savings year on year but again the fundamental financials of the hospital are in good shape.

I hope my Westminster Hall debate – secured for 12th October - will allow the success of Odstock Medical to be highlighted and also provoke a Ministerial response on how the great capacity for commercialising the brightest ideas of our hospital's consultants can be extended. The leadership of Salisbury District Hospital deserve our thanks and respect.