NEWS
Articles written by Jacob for local and national newspapers.
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SUMMER UPDATE
The Farrington Gurney Parish Journal, July/August 2022
This year’s Summer Parliamentary Recess will begin when the House of Commons rises at the end of the day’s session on 21st July and business will resume on Monday 5th September. During recess, Members of Parliament typically spend more time in their...
SUPPORT FOR NATURE PROJECTS
The Somerset Guardian, 29th June 2022
Last week, Lord Benyon wrote to all Members of Parliament about the Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (NEIRF). The Minister announced that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has established the Fund...
THE HIGHER EDUCATION BILL
The Somerset Guardian, 22nd June 2022
Attacks on free speech, the cancel culture and de-platforming have become a scourge of universities, which ought to be bastions of free speech. This is why I am so pleased that the Government has introduced the Higher Education (Freedom of...
H.M. PASSPORT OFFICE
The Somerset Guardian, 15th June 2022
A number of constituents have written to me over the past few months as regards the problems that they have been encountering with H.M. Passport Office. Whilst the backlog seems to be improving, I thought that I would use this week's column to...
THE PLATINUM JUBILEE
The Somerset Guardian, 8th June 2022
The rain held off just long enough for the West Harptree Jubilee celebration to be completed. Along with communities across the land, towns and villages in North East Somerset paid tribute to The Queen. The prayer we all make in the national...
TINTAGEL CLOSE REDEVELOPMENT
The Somerset Guardian, 1st June 2022
Recently, the chief executive of Curo, Victor da Cunha, wrote to me with an update about the housing association’s current plans for Tintagel Close in Keynsham. Following surveys and a consultation with the residents who would be...
DEMENTIA ACTION WEEK
The MNR Journal, 25th May 2022
Last week was Dementia Action Week (16th-22nd May) and on Wednesday an event was held in Parliament, which was attended by people affected by dementia, experts from the Alzheimer’s Society charity and clinicians. The charity's Dementia...
MORE MONEY FOR SCHOOLS
The Somerset Guardian, 18th May 2022
Last week, the Education Secretary, Nadhim Zahawi, wrote to all Members of Parliament about the Department for Education’s Condition Improvement Fund for the 2022-3 round. I am, delighted to announce that from the list of...
WAY TO WORK
The Somerset Guardian, 11th May 2022
Recently, I received a letter from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) outlining the changes that are being made to the way in which jobseekers look for work. The DWP is helping its clients move into employment through its new Way to Work...
RESTORATIVE APPROACHES
The Somerset Guardian, 4th May 2022
Recently, a representative of an organisation called ‘Restorative Approaches’ visited my surgery to discuss the work that the group carries out. Restorative Approaches is a Somerset-based charity that is linked to Avon and Somerset Police. One of...
STATE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT
The Farrington Gurney Parish Journal, May/June 2022
The State Opening of Parliament will take place on 10th May 2022 and marks the formal start of the parliamentary year. It is the only regular occasion which unites the three elements of legislature – the House of Lords, the House of Commons and the...
BACK TO THE OFFICE
The Somerset Guardian, 27th April 2022
Recently, I visited an office whose officials report to my department. In a room that could fit many, not a soul could be found. When the national lockdown was announced in March 2020, my immediate challenge was to find a way of keeping Parliament...
UK-RWANDA PARTNERSHIP
The Somerset Guardian, 20th April 2022
This week, the Home Secretary wrote to all Members of Parliament to outline the Government’s partnership with Rwanda to help fix the current global asylum system and tackle the scourge of criminal gangs facilitating illegal Channel...
AN EASTER MESSAGE
The Somerset Guardian, 13th April 2022
All Christian belief depends upon the Resurrection, which is why the joy of Easter is even greater than that of Christmas. As St. Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins...
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT SCHEMES
The Somerset Guardian, 6th April 2022
This week, the Minister for Climate Change and Corporate Responsibility, Lord Callanan, wrote to all Members of Parliament to set out details of the Government Responses to the consultations on expanding the Warm Home Discount and the...