Diary of your MP from Karen Lumley, MP for Redditch County – 15 January 2016
LAST week (January 6) I had the immense privilege of being able to speak in the House of Commons twice, including taking top slot at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs).
Firstly, at Scotland Questions, I was able to ask Secretary of State for Scotland (David Mundell), what assessment he has made of the level of growth in the economy in Scotland. A few minutes later, I enjoyed the rare opportunity of kicking off PMQs with the first question of the day to David Cameron by asking him to confirm that, while he is Prime Minister of this country, condemning terrorist attacks would not be a bar to holding high office?
This was a reference to the fact two Shadow Ministers quit their jobs over the sacking of Shadow Europe Minister Pat McFadden in a reshuffle, allegedly over ‘disloyalty’ after he appeared to criticise the Labour leader’s stance on terrorism.
Some constituents later challenged me for not asking questions about Redditch, and more specifically about the situation at the Alexandra Hospital. But the biggest threat to this country at the moment is terrorism and so I do feel thatit was very relevant to the people of Redditch.
In terms of my question to Secretary of State for Scotland, David Mundell, this was also relevant to the many companies in Redditch who have considerable order books from north of the border.
Of course locally, the Alexandra Hospital and healthcare provision has been my main concern ever since, and even before I became an MP. Unfortunately as a Parliamentary Private Secretary within the Department of Health, I am precluded from raising the issue on the floor of the House.
However, in the background, I am doing all I can, including meeting with Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt, to see what plans he has for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust now it has gone into Special Measures.
To keep up to date with what I am doing, visit http://www.tellkaren.com/ or follow https://www.facebook.com/Karen4RedditchCounty/ or https://mobile.twitter.com/tell_karen.
