Open on expenses

I promised to be open on expenses and I am publishing everything. You can see the detail of what I have claimed for by clicking here. Do please comment or let me know if you have any queries on how I have been spending your money. In addition to expenses, there are three members of staff who help me in my work for you.

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"Life saving" Norfolkline workers thanked during top MP's visit

This week I welcomed Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP to the Port of Dover. I invited Keith, the Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee to come to meet Dover's border guardians and meet two very special Norfolkline workers who were responsible for saving the lives of human trafficking victims in June.

I was delighted to welcome Keith to Dover. I was very keen to show him the excellent work that our border guardians perform to keep our border here at Dover secure. I was particularly pleased to meet Diane and Paul who deserve thanks and praise for their swift action, which saved lives.

A former Minister in the previous Government, Keith's powerful Committee in Parliament oversees border security and immigration issues. The visit provided me with an opportunity to showcase the achievements of local staff and the challenges of day to day operations. The visit's programme included a tour of the UK Border Agency (UKBA) freight and tourist controls in Dover, a Channel crossing and inspection of UKBA's immigration controls in Calais.

I requested a visit to Norfolkline, so Keith and I could meet Diane Fulton and Paul Spain, two Norfolk Line employees who discovered a group of Afghans being trafficked in the back of a lorry in late June. The seventeen men and boys were discovered seriously ill in the back of an articulated lorry and one was taken to Hospital to receive treatment.

Andreas Teschl, Norfolkline's Vice President for the English Channel said: "We are very proud of Diane and Paul. I am delighted that their rapid reaction prevented a tragedy and their work has been recognised by Dover's MP and Mr Vaz."

This visit is a great opportunity to show Keith the very real problems of human trafficking and illegal immigration that we encounter in Dover. The more we can co operate with France to strengthen border operations, the better. The British frontline border guardians in Dover make superhuman efforts to scan lorries to find contraband and trafficked people.

Keith said: "I would like to congratulate local MP Charlie Elphicke for his continued support of the frontline workers who fight everyday to ensure the security of our borders. Border security must remain a priority for the Government and the implementation of UKBA operations in both Calais and Dover is essential for this aim. Investment in up to date scanners and co-operation with the French authorities is the only way we can even begin to combat the illegal trafficking of both goods and people." 

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Charlie celebrates academy victory

Today I celebrated with staff and pupils of Castle Community College in Deal.

Castle Community applied to the Department for Education to gain Academy status earlier this year and has received confirmation from the Education Secretary, Michael Gove, that the school will become an academy from this September, one of an estimated two hundred nationally. I wrote to Ministers in support of their application both prior to and since my election in May and spoke up in the Commons in favour of the bid.

At lunch with the staff and pupils, I congratulated the Headteacher, Christine Chapman, her staff and students.  Having been a long term supporter of Castle Community's bid, I am delighted that it will be among the first schools to shift to academy status. This is national recognition of the campaign we have all fought and the achievements of this exceptional school. I wanted to particularly praise the inspirational Headteacher, Christine Chapman who has ably led this campaign with such great results.

Headteacher, Christine Chapman said: "I am thrilled for our school and our community. Charlie's intervention made a real difference and I'm so grateful for his help in our getting early academy status. This means our school can continue to build on our strong academic position and I would like to thank all of our staff, students and parents who have contributed to this result."

The application criteria to the Department of Education required Castle Community to maintain an outstanding academic record, have the support of the school's governing body and its PTA - all of which were satisfied.

Parents, teachers and governors have all worked very hard to get to this position today and I hope that this will ensure that the children of Deal continue to receive the excellent education to which they are entitled.

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The Olympic Torch should enter the UK at Dover

The obvious place for the olymic torch to arrive for the Olympic games is Dover. It arrived here in 1948 (the photo is of the 1948 torch relay) and should arrive here in 2012. Why? Because Dover is the gateway to England. And because the White Cliffs stand as a symbol for so many of the olympic ideals. The campaign is reported in the Dover Express this week.

The arrival of the torch would be done in proper style. The plan includes a celebration of water sports across the Channel, followed by a reception of the torch at the foot of the White Cliffs. A celebration of land sports will take place up to the historic Dover Castle where the 2,000 year old Roman Pharos will be lit for the first time in a Millennium - a ceremony that will see beacons lit across the nation, as was done last in the Millennium celebrations. The torch relay would then set off in earnest across Britain.

Pass the Passion is the schools' contribution to Dover's campaign. They have been working hard to make our case. They have even designed this logo which is truly charming!

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Ministers pressed on People's Port proposal

Ministers have said that they will now hold a review on Labour's plan to privatise our port and sell it to the French or whoever. Yet I am not happy to let the matter rest there. I want the people of Dover to be able to buy our port under the Government's Big Society policy.

There are two reasons. First, locally, it is clear Dovorians wish to own the port to secure its future. Second, nationally, because the Big Society policy must realise its potential if it is to be taken seriously. This policy - which is really about power to the people - offers a really big change. The policy needs to be taken seriously for the amazing change it can deliver. It is too important to let people compare it to the Citizen's Charter, the Cone Hotline and all that. The Prime Minister's vision has the power to really transform Britain.

Were our port to become the people's port, everyone would see how this policy has the power to make a radical change. People will see how serious it is. Traditional style big clunking Government, with a traditional unimaginative Treasury approach, would just flog our port off on the cheap. That's why I hope the Prime Minister can show, with Dover becoming a people's port, how the Big Society policy will make a big difference. This I set out to Ministers when I pressed them on the issue in the House of Commons. The exchange went like this (you can click on the direct link here):

4. Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con): What plans he has for the future of the port of Dover; and if he will make a statement. [10277]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mike Penning): Dover harbour board has submitted a transfer scheme to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. If-I reiterate if-that is approved, that will allow the board to privatise the port of Dover.

Charlie Elphicke: I thank the Minister for conducting this review. Will it consider the community's bid to buy the port of Dover and turn it into Dover's people's port? It is important that people know that the big society is not just about cycle paths, canal-side tow tracks and things like that-the big society is, well, big. It should include the port of Dover, and deprived communities should benefit as much as well-off communities.

Mike Penning: I congratulate my hon. Friend on his stalwart and continuing hard work on behalf of his constituents and his continued view on where Dover port should go. The consultation that I announced yesterday is part of the manifesto commitment to allow local people, businesses and the port to ensure that there is as much information as possible in the public domain, including the proposals on the people's port.

T5. [10298] Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con): I see that the shipping Minister has been to Harwich and Felixstowe in the past week. I invite him to come and see the port of Dover, so that he can see at first hand how our plans can be the jewel in the crown of the big society and make Dover the jewel in the crown of the nation once again.

Mike Penning: That is a fantastic offer which, of course, I will accept.

I continue to press the case . . . to be continued! 

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Department for Transport's Statement on the Future of the Port of Dover

Today the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, Mike Penning MP made a Ministerial Statement on the future of the Port of Dover.

I am delighted that the Government has delivered on our election pledge to review the sell off proposed by the previous Government. I intend to put forward the people's port bid so that the people can own our port. I remain opposed to the previous Government's plan for fire sale of our port to the French or whoever.

The full text of the Statement from the Department for Transport is located at this page.

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Help me save Sampson Court

I am supporting the campaign to save Sampson Court nursing home in Deal.

I met residents and staff when I went to Sampson Court's summer garden party.  I also met with Deal's Conservative County Councillor, Julie Rook and Deal's Mayor and Labour Councillor, Ben Bano. Julie received a petition from Mrs Audrey Hobbs, whose husband receives care at Sampson Court.

It is wonderful that we are all demonstrating our support for Sampson Court. We are troubled about the possible closure and I am doing everything I can as the MP to support Julie's battle to save Sampson Court at County Hall. Our combined efforts will be needed and I am looking forward to working with Ben and his colleagues on the Town Council. We need to put aside our party differences for the sake of the Sampson Court residents and the community in Deal.

I know that Sampson Court is one of the nursing homes currently being considered for closure by Kent County Council. A consultation is currently underway to consider whether the building is fit for purpose and equipped to provide the high level of care required by elderly and vulnerable people.

I will continue to pressure Kent County Council to consider this case very carefully. I know from the number of letters I have received that people care passionately about saving Sampson Court and I urge everyone who wants to safeguard the welfare of the residents, to help me save Sampson Court. I hope that together, we can achieve the right result for our community.

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Charlie celebrates National Childcare Week with a host of Little Stars!

Today I visited the Little Stars Parent and Toddler Group, at Salem Baptist Church on Maison Dieu Road, Dover to mark National Childcare Week. The week, which is run by the Daycare Trust, seeks to promote and celebrate the benefits of affordable, accessible childcare for all.

As a father myself, I am keenly aware that all children should have access to high quality childcare. I would like to thank the Little Stars Group for having me to visit and allowing me to join in with some of their activities. They are a template for the kind of excellent child care that should be available to everyone. Good care at the youngest ages gives children the best start in life. I want to raise awareness of the high quality childcare that is available in Dover and Deal.

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Welcome back Bill!

It was an honour to welcome Bill Shaw back onto British soil at Heathrow Airport earlier today. Both prior to, and since, my election to Parliament I have worked very closely with Liz and Lisa, Bill's wife and daughter and I felt privileged to have been included in such a family occasion.

This has been a long process from my very first speech in Parliament, to meetings with Ministers and Officials and finally taking Bill's case to Downing Street itself. The work of the Foreign Office behind the scenes with the Afghan authorities has been inspiring and I am glad that the efforts of everyone involved has paid off.

I am incredibly pleased that justice has been served and Bill is a free man once more. It must have been a harrowing three months in an Afghan jail and it is great to have him back where he belongs with his family and friends in the UK.

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Bill Shaw released

It was great news to hear that Major Bill Shaw MBE (ret'd) was acquitted today. I took up Bill's cause on behalf of the family with the Foreign Office as it did not look like justice had been done in Bill's case. He was arrested back in March after paying a car pound release fee to get his vehicles back from the Afghan authorities who had impounded them. The charge against Bill was that his payment of a release fee was some sort of bribe.

From the outset the case seemed very odd to me. No witnesses were called for the prosecution. Many Afghan experts felt it had more to do with a tit for tat against our previous Government's attacks on the Afghan Government. Whatever the truth, it always seemed to me that justice had not been done and that Bill was the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time. Bill is fortunate indeed to have the most supportive and strong family of fighters! I am delighted that the new Foreign Office Ministers have not only transformed relations with the Afghan Government, they also provided strong support to Bill.

Given his distinguished service in the Military Police, his being a rare commission from the ranks ending up a Major, a decorated soldier and honoured with a MBE, there was no doubt in my mind it was right to make the strongest case on Bill's behalf. The bottom line is that he spent most of his life defending us and it was right we should defend him in his hour of need. It is right to protect the liberty of our citizens in foreign climes and to uphold the miitary covenant. I was proud to support Bill's case and am delighted he has now been freed. 

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