Robert Smith's Column

Sir Robert Smith MP

Last week saw the first meeting of the reformed Energy and Climate Change Committee which I have been re-elected to serve on. Our role is to scrutinise the work of the department and investigate issues to do with energy and climate change.

There have already been some topical debates and meetings on energy matters in Parliament. I recently attended a debate on rural fuel poverty. I pointed out that those not on the gas mains, look like continuing to lose out as their heating fuels are more expensive. In addition many rural properties are not easy to insulate.

A recent survey reminded us just how much the offshore oil and gas industry contributes to the UK economy and especially to the local economy here in the North East. My colleague Malcolm Bruce had a useful debate to focus minds on the importance of ensuring we do our best to maximise investment in the industry.

I very much reinforced his point about the export potential of the industries that have grown up here in the North East. We have world leading skills that can bring earnings back to this country if we have the right environment for companies to remain located here.

Good transport links and quality of life are important if we are to keep these companies in the North East. It is important that the Scottish Government ensure a fair funding formula for our local councils if they are to make the vital investment that will help ensure the quality of life is at its most attractive for new investment.

It is important for all levels of Government to understand that if the North East misses out on oil and gas investment the jobs will not just go to another part of the country, but will go abroad to other oil provinces. Not only will the country lose jobs and export earnings, but, also, very valuable tax revenues.

The previous week there was a statement announcing redeployment of troops in Afghanistan. They will be handing over parts of Helmand to US marines. This dramatic increase in troop numbers on the ground just goes to show how difficult a task our forces had been asked to undertake.

I, also, attended two other briefing meetings on the situation in Afghanistan. The lack of resources the previous Government applied to support the mission in the early days has meant the job is now all the more difficult.

The increasing US forces are a belated recognition of the need to improve security whilst the Afghan Army and police are given the training and support to provide their own security. Meanwhile it is important that we build on the UK's experience of providing development assistance so as to help bring stability by showing the benefits that can be achieved where security improves.

The Government has confirmed its intention to bring forward legislation to give people the chance to choose a fairer voting system. The proposal would allow people to vote positively for the candidate they support wherever they live. Such a reform would force the political parties to widen the appeal of their campaign to address the whole country and not just key marginal constituencies.

Another part of the reform package is a measure to ensure Parliamentary constituencies' boundaries are redrawn to reduce the number of MPs by ten percent. At the same time the aim is to ensure they are more equal in number of voters so that wherever you live your vote has the same weight. Voting reform and new constituencies should together ensure greater say for the electorate over the parties at the next General Election.

Sir Robert Smith MP

23rd July 2010