Heritage Open Days Festival 2018

England’s largest festival of history and culture will be returning in September: the Heritage Open Days festival. Andrew explains, "Around 2,000 organisations, 5,500 events and 46,000 volunteers, are collaborating to bring about the Heritage Open Days festival. Across the country, 1000's of unique places open their doors for free to the public, with this year’s festival running over two weekends. This is a great opportunity to enjoy the many fantastic historical and cultural sites we have ...

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Night-time Patrol with Local Police

On Friday night, Andrew joined Scunthorpe Police Station for a night-time patrol. Having completed the Police Service Parliamentary Scheme, Andrew has previously undertaken night patrols with the policing team at Goole, along with a variety of other placements with Humberside Police teams such as the Dog Section, Traffic Team, Crime Investigation, etc. Andrew reports, "It has been a little while since I was last on shift with the police locally which is why I organised this ride-along with two ...

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Goole Train Factory - Don't Panic

Following the recent news reports regarding Siemens' train factory in Goole, Andrew has provided the below explanation for constituents. Andrew says, "As residents may have seen in the local media, Transport for London has been taken to court by rival companies, Bombardier and Hitachi, over their decision to award the new tube contracts to Siemens. "Such challenges to procurement processes are not unusual in such circumstances. Following the award of any such contract as this, there is a lega...

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Phlebotomy to be Reinstated at Snaith and Rawcliffe Medical Group

Andrew has been informed that a successful bid to fund routine phlebotomy at the Snaith and Rawcliffe Medical Group has been secured. Commenting on the news, Andrew said, "As you may be aware, the taking of routine blood samples from patients at the practice was previously withdrawn due to a review of PMS funding.This was a local NHS decision, which made me very concerned at the time. However, I am happy to see that commonsense has prevailed. "The CCG have now reinvested the PMS money back int...

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RAF Centenary Commemorations and Events

In celebration of the 100 year anniversary of the Royal Air Force (RAF), a number of events and commemorations are being held in our area and throughout the UK this year.  Andrew reports, “I am delighted that our area is taking part in commemorating the 100 year anniversary of the RAF. Up and down the country, events and memorials are taking place to celebrate RAF100. “For example, please take the time to visit the Church of St Mark in Amcotts to see the wonderful poppy cascade, which was...

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Perspectives on Surrogacy Survey 2018

A UK surrogacy survey has been launched by Dr Kirsty Horsey in conjunction with the Surrogacy UK Working Group on Surrogacy Law Reform. Andrew, who is the chair of the APPG on Surrogacy, says, "Following my question on surrogacy in Parliament yesterday, I would like to draw your attention to a new survey conducted by Dr Kirsty Horsey and the Surrogacy UK Working Group on Surrogacy Law Reform. "The survey seeks responses from surrogates, IPs (home or overseas arrangements) and anyone else who ...

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Surrogacy Questions at Health Question Time

Andrew attended the Department of Health question time earlier today to ask the Minister, Jackie Doyle-Price, a question on surrogacy and the draft Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008 (Remedial) Order 2018. Andrew said, "On behalf of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Surrogacy, which I chair, I began by thanking the Minister for attending our recent APPG meeting. I mentioned how surrogacy helps to build families for a variety of people and asked the Minister what more can be d...

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Year of Engineering – Summer Events and Activities

The Government’s Year of Engineering campaign is now at its half-way point. The campaign is a cross-government scheme to encourage more young people to get involved in engineering and STEM more generally. This summer, the Government is running its Holiday Makers programme of events and activities for children.  Andrew explains, "If you are thinking of activities to keep your children occupied over the summer holidays, the Government’s new Holiday Makers programme might be of interest. The ...

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