Launch of APPG for Neurodiversity in Defence and National Security
I met with colleagues to launch my new All Party Parliamentary Group for Neurodiversity in Defence and National Security. It is a cross party group and good to have a Labour peer on board, Baroness Anderson, who is also a Honorary Captain in the Royal Naval Reserve. Alongside Baroness Anderson and myself, there will be Paul Bristow MP and Chris Clarkson MP. With Dan Harris, Founder of Neurodiversity in Business as our Secretariat.
Neurodiversity describes the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways. This applies to people not only such as myself who have dyspraxia and dyslexia, but also individuals with ADHD, autism and other associated conditions.
As you know, I am very passionate about neurodiversity and have done lots of work in this area during my time as a Member of Parliament. I was also part of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme 2022-2023. The aim of the Scheme is to give Members of the House of Commons and House of Lords experience and an insight into military life that would not otherwise be available to us. I thoroughly enjoyed taking part in this Scheme.
However, through this scheme myself and colleagues identified a number of issues around the accessibility of the armed forces for neurodiverse people. My APPG will aim to rectify these and I would like to launch an inquiry into how there can be better recruitment of neurodiverse people in the Armed Forces.
Whilst part of the Scheme, I met a Commanding Officer at Sandhurst and we had an interesting discussion about how warfare is progressing further and further towards cyber. Those who are neurodiverse can think outside the box and see things differently such as pattern recognition and keen attention to detail. These skills are paramount to enhancing our cyber security as a country.
Despite the wealth of research and studies into challenges faced by the neurodivergent community in general, there is very little on the lived experiences of neurodivergent individuals specifically in the UK Defence and National Security sector. There is already good work and commitment in progress across a number of initiatives, such as the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) Neuro Inclusivity Network.
This new group I am launching will formally seek to identify and address these sector specific challenges and promote utilising and being more inclusive of the neurodivergent workforce in the Armed Forces. I greatly look forward to all the great work on Neurodiversity in Defence and National Security that will come.
Spoke in House of Commons on cutting net legal migration
Last summer I published a plan to cut net legal migration significantly. I set out 11 clear proposals that could slash the numbers to levels the majority of the British public would be far more comfortable with.
A majority of my proposals have now been adopted by the Government. The income threshold for getting a visa here has been increased significantly. The ability for international students to bring dependents has also been curtailed. Just recently the Government announced that those coming here on Health and Care Worker visas also won’t be able to bring dependents.
The issue is that understandably people’s confidence in the system has been eroded, to such an extent that it is crucial we see the evidence and data that these new measures are significantly cutting immigration into our country. I asked the Minister today to bring that evidence to the House as soon as possible so we can prove that things are decisively heading in the right direction.
There is ample evidence that the Health and Care Worker visas and the Student visas have been abused by many. I have seen evidence of this. The solution to challenges with social care staffing should be to increase pay and increase its status. There is also a lot of evidence of poorly preforming Universities propping up their finances through the international student route. Sometimes it seems like they are selling immigration more than education.
I have and always will campaign tirelessly on this issue as I know how strongly so many of my constituents feel about it. As do I.
Ipswich Indian community visit to Parliament
I was very pleased that a large number of constituents from the local British Indian community in Ipswich have been able to visit Parliament this week. They bring so much to the Town.
Visit to Karibu African Support Group
I met with the Karibu African Support Group at Burlington Church Hall. It is the first time I’ve met with them since a very lively and well attended Platinum Jubilee party they held in summer 2022.
I was very pleased to hear they’ve just secured a £127,509 donation from the National Lottery Community Fund. This will enable them to increase the support they offer to a number of vulnerable people throughout the community.
They’re very committed to promoting integration and empowering women.
Tom raises need for more NHS dentists at PMQs
Another week another PMQ! Two weeks in a row! I was very pleased to be able to raise the great work the University of Suffolk have carried out in collaboration with the local NHS in establishing the new dental centre. This will make a major difference locally by offering approximately 18,000 hours of NHS only dental appointments for local people each year.
It’s also appropriate that I pay tribute to the great work carried out by Jo Churchill MP on this matter. She’s been front and centre of the work here and I’ve been happy to support her.
We do also need to ensure that those who get trained to become dentists, heavily supported by the tax payer, are obligated to give something back to the NHS. I believe the option of a tie-in period, of 5 years for example, should be seriously considered to ensure dentists cannot simply go abroad or into private practise after finishing their training. This would greatly help the issue of access to NHS dentistry.
I was pleased to hear the Prime Minister make clear that he is sympathetic to this and it is being actively considered by the Government.
THE MILL RAISED IN PRIME MINISTERS QUESTIONS
I was pleased to be able to raise the plight of my constituents at the Mill directly with the Prime Minister today.
The behaviour of NAMA has been shocking and deeply immoral. A huge sum of money was provided for the purpose of tackling many of the remediation issues at the Mill and they have simply run off with it. It may be legal but it is shockingly immoral and the PM should raise with the Irish Taoiseach.
My question to the PM followed the session on the select committee where I got to grill the Fire Safety Minister on other elements of the situation at the Mill, St Francis Tower and Cardinal Lofts.
I hope the Fire Safety Minister will be making another visit soon to Ipswich to meet directly with residents at the Mill and outline a way forward.
PMQs are a great way of really shining a spotlight on injustices and I was pleased that today I had that opportunity.
Questioning the Minister in the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee
Last month, I was elected to the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee. It will give me a good platform to probe further when it comes up to issues relating to building safety and cladding. A massive issue in Ipswich as you will all know.
I recently had a session with the Housing Minister. I called for greater transparency for leaseholders when it comes to the structural defects with the buildings where they live. I also called for stronger enforcement action to ensure that those who have done wrong are properly held to account. More often that not it’s innocent leaseholders who are paying the price for this scandal and not the wrong doers.
Pleased I was able to mention the Mill, Cardinal Lofts, and St Francis Tower all in the same meeting.
There have been some positive movements with the Building Safety Act, Fire Safety Act, and some of the new Constriction Standards but we still have a long way to go. Especially in Ipswich.
Gainsborough BMX Club
BROOMHILL LIDO FUNDING BOOST
Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme
The year I spent as part of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme was extremely worthwhile. It gave me a fascinating insight into the lives led by our brave armed forces personnel and the challenges they face.
The scheme took me to north Norway with th Marines artic training, to the Russian border in Estonia, to Cyprus and to Gibralter! I actually met a fair few Ipswich residents along the way who are serving our country overseas.
This is an incredibly good scheme which is incredibly helpful for MPs such as myself who don’t come from a military background. Certainly when we have Defence Questions and Statements I will far more able to make contributions now and next week I will be launching a new Parliamentary Group to help more neurodiverse people to enter the armed forces.
I was pleased to be able to attend a “graduation dinner” a few weeks ago to commemorate my completion of the scheme.