Tynedale Business network, Royal Mail, surgeries and school visit today

V early start in Hexham at 7.30 with local small businesses meeting at the Hexham cafe Mrs Miggins this morning, talking about everything from the government help to small businesses, the freezing of fuel duty, and any questions they have to raise .... with the cafe's brilliant bacon butties on the side to get us going.
Then off to meet the team working at the local Royal Mail depot in Hexham before a trip to corbridge   Middle school at 10.15 to talk to the school and discuss the sky sports living for sport campaign. I will be trying to pop by Hexham hospital on the way back into town.

Then before lunch I have long booked in surgeries on the arch cru financial crisis with constituents who have lost money in a terrible financial scandal. We are doing all we can to help them both individually as a constituency MP, and collectively as part of the All Party Group in the House of Commons - which makes up dozens of cross party MPs. There are issues as to whether individuals who have lost money should sue the offending companies or whether they should take the collective agreement that has been negotiated. That is their choice and I will be discussing the options with them.
Afterwards, I have further surgeries on a number of issues. Pleased to say I have a night off Friday evening, but have a busy Saturday and Sunday across the constituency.

Tynedale Business Network - a "Paxman" Grilling

The TBN is a very successful business group who help each other out with referrals and cover all walks of business life in the Tynedale area from tyres to furnishings, from banking to charities. I have been going to some of their recent meetings in Hexham and was recently invited to be grilled "Paxman" style by 25 of them. This process lasted over an hour over bacon butties. For my part the chance to question and be grilled by 25 of the local business leaders is priceless. Was asked questions about transport, charitable trusts, business development, the deficit, future taxes, NI / corporation tax contributions, the RDA and its numbers of staff, young peoples housing, the ability to cut back the state bureaucracy, local job creation, the disaster of present apprenticeship schemes, County Council budget cuts and much more.
The best comment was by one businessman who asked why it was that government departments still did not get the chance to carry forward retained profits at the end of the year - all agreed this was a disastrous accounting malpractice.
A good morning. Was also pleased to give several business referrals: for example as I canvass so much I was able to tell the man with the internet mast business where he will do well as parts of the area's broadband reception is terrible.