As we approach the summer holidays there was an end-of-term feeling on the Riverside Walk in Horsham on Saturday. 260 attendees enjoyed wonderful weather and a brilliantly organised event.
Parliament is also heading into “recess” after a hectic few weeks. The vote to renew the fleet of submarines that carry the UK’s independent nuclear deterrent was one of our last pieces of business. I supported the decision. There are of course thousands of highly-skilled engineering jobs in the UK which the decision sustains but that is a side benefit. We live in very uncertain times and at 0.2 per cent of annual Government expenditure I think renewing our submarine fleet in order to be able to retain our deterrent is an insurance policy worth paying. We all want to see a world without these dreadful weapons but we live in enormously uncertain times and it is hard to assess the threats that may come in the next 30-40 years. The Referendum decision makes it even more important in my view that we are seen to be prepared to take seriously our role in defending not only the UK but our European NATO allies. No one would suggest that the nuclear deterrent can solve the scourge of terrorism that alas we see so often but it is a critical part of our overall package of national deterrence.
I am afraid the local ambulance service, provided by South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) is causing serious concern with a number of constituents having to wait hours for an ambulance. The performance of SECAmb has been under intense scrutiny since last October and has seen significant management change. Unfortunately, it seems as though the situation has not yet improved as the Care Quality Commission issued a warning notice this week to SECAmb following their inspection in May where they found many shortcomings that need to be urgently addressed. SECAmb have set out their improvement action plan. I am taking up individual cases and will continue to monitor the improvement plan closely. We all need to be confident that in the sometimes desperate circumstances when one is needed an ambulance and its excellent professional staff will be on hand.