Hybrid Parliament and Adapting The Role Of MP
April 22, 2020
Yesterday, the House of Commons approved measures to allow MPs to continue their role of scrutinising the executive, legislating and representing the interests of constituents in a so-called ‘hybrid Parliament’. Under new rules, up to 50 predominantly London-based MPs will be allowed in the chamber while up to 120 other MPs will virtually take part in debates and oral questions via video link. Any MP who wishes to participate in parliamentary proceedings must submit their request to the Speaker and will be at no disadvantage compared to MPs in the chamber. Julian would like to thank all who have assisted the Procedure Committee of the House of Commons in making this possible and he looks forward to continuing to represent his constituents in this new format.
Like many working throughout the outbreak, Covid-19 has led to changes in how Julian carries out his duties as a Member of Parliament but with the help of technology it has not diminished what he can do on behalf of constituents. Over the last few weeks, he has taken part in many video conferences to hear the concerns of different businesses and how each sector has adapted to these unprecedented times.
Julian has been in regular contact with the NFU regarding the affect of the outbreak on food supply. As a member of Parliament’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee he has a particular interest in this issue as the committee have launched an inquiry into ‘Covid-19 and food supply’. It was great news that the Government has relaxed competition rules within the dairy sector to allow the industry to adapt to changes in the supply changed caused by decreased demand by the hospitality sector. The next challenge will be to address the changes in supply for beef and lamb but Julian is confident that once lockdown measures are eased and more takeaway as well as drive-thru restaurants reopen the negative effects on the industry will be lessened.
Each week Julian has also been taking part in conference calls with the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and other North Yorkshire MPs to discuss any trends in crime that have been noticed in their case work since the Covid-19 outbreak. He has also received briefings on how North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service have been working within our communities and have adapted to the new challenges that they have been presented with. If you have any concerns regarding crime during lockdown, please do contact Julian so he can raise them at these meetings.
Last Friday, Julian had a telephone meeting with the leadership of the Vale of York NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to receive an update on how local NHS primary care services are coping with the outbreak, and to check what he could do to assist. He was updated on a range of matters, including the supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to GP surgeries and other healthcare settings, and the expansion of covid-19 testing facilities for the city’s NHS staff. It has since been announced that the new NHS drive-thru testing facility will be based at Poppleton Park and Ride.
Julian has also been engaging in wider issues and has spoken with City of York Council officials on a variety of matters. One of his main campaigns, which he continues to push with Ministers within the Department of Transport, is to have a new railway station built at Haxby. It was disappointing that after promising signs Haxby was not included in previous rounds of the Government’s New Stations Fund – but with a new round of funding available this year Julian will be lobbying hard for the scheme which will improve the connectivity of the local area and reduce congestion into York.
