MP James Wild’s column discusses rising costs for businesses and a reopening date for the West Lynn ferry

In his Lynn News column, MP James Wild discusses rising costs for businesses and a reopening date for the West Lynn ferry…

Having written about what I was up to in recess, I thought it would be worth giving an insight into my week back in the House of Commons last week.

Every day there are departmental questions and I was fortunate to be selected in the ballot for three days out of four.

First was education - I took up concerns head teachers have raised with me that the Chancellor’s National Insurance increase and other pressures on school budgets could result in losing existing teaching staff.

An unfunded pay award will make the situation worse. Regrettably, the minister did not engage properly with the warnings from schools.

Later that day, I was back in the Chamber, speaking in the football governance bill. During the debate I raised the position of the Linnets and other clubs who had to take Covid Sports Survival Loans.

I urged the Government to assist clubs and look at the specific situation facing Lynn and the Culture Secretary agreed to look into this.

I also warned about the dangers of over-regulation by creating a new regulator and the potential risks it could pose to the competitive elements that make the Premier League so popular across the world.

A competitive economy depends on cheaper energy and on my regular visits to local firms energy prices are often cited as a barrier to growth. UK industrial electricity prices are the highest in the OECD, threatening jobs and investment.

So I used energy and net zero questions to highlight the harmful effects on manufacturing and other intensive users and urged ministers to act to make prices more competitive.

Thursday brought business and trade questions. A new survey of major retailers showed that seven in ten thought the new employment bill would harm their firms and half said it would lead to jobs losses.

This comes on top of Labour’s jobs tax which is particularly hitting retail, hospitality social care, hospices, and small businesses. When I challenged the minister over the impact on our high streets, he ignored the £5billion a year cost businesses are expected to bear.

The surprise of the week came when I asked the Business Secretary to say how much taxpayers’ money has been spent on British Steel and he actually answered! £94million has been made available already in only a few weeks but there is still no longer-term plan, so it is important to keep up scrutiny of these costs.

On Friday, I met the borough and county councils to review the situation of the West Lynn Ferry. This is an issue that has regularly been raised with me since the service was suspended on safety grounds in January.

I welcome the plans that were shared to restore the service in the summer. The loss of this valued service has been very disruptive for the ferry operator and passengers and it has taken a frustrating amount of time.

But now thanks to the work with councils, the harbour master, Conservancy Board, and other organisations, there is a plan to get it back running.

As well as speaking in the chamber, I met constituents and dealt with casework on the assisted dying bill, crimes committed overseas, broadband, gave an interview to Radio Norfolk on the move to a single chief executive across QEH and local acute hospitals, and finally I conducted interviews for a role in my constituency team.

All in all, a busy week before joining in the 80th anniversary celebrations for VE Day.