From: Conor Burns MP news@conorburns.

com
Subject: News Bulletin from Conor Burns MP #132
Date: 14 July 2015 13:20
To: news@conorburns.com

Issue 132 - Tuesday 14th July 2015

In this edition:

Since the last edition, Conor has:

Conor's Diary
Conor in Parliament:
Conor raises Navitus Bay at
Business Questions

Met with Jurassica project staff to receive updates on their

work.
Attended the opening of the new Student Centre at
Bournemouth University.
Met with representatives from the Poole & Christchurch
Bays Association to discuss the Navitus Bay Windfarm.
Listened to the valedictory speech of Lord Eden (MP for
Bournemouth West 1954-83) as he retired from the House of
Lords.
Questioned Business Secretary Chris Grayling on the
transparency of the Planning Inspectorates decision on
Navitus Bay.
Attending the opening of the new premises for the Crumbs
project at the former Ensbury Park Community Centre, to find
out more about the work they are doing with vulnerable adults
to help them gain the skills they need for greater independence.
Contributed to an Adjournment Debate on the Navitus Bay
windfarm.
Questioned the Prime Minister about recent events in Tunisia.
Met with staff and customers at Bournemouths Age UK centre
to learn more about how they are supporting older members of
the community.
Joined Kinson Food Bank volunteers at Kinson Tesco to find
out more about they work they are doing within the community.
Presented the Snooker Prize at the Federation Meeting at
Kinson Conservative Club.

Conor in Parliament:
Conor speaks in
Adjournment Debate on the
Navitus Bay Windfarm
Photo news:
Conor opens new premises
for Crumbs
Bournemouth West in
Parliament:
Lord Eden's Valedictory
Speech
Conor in the papers: BBC
accused of 'reheating
tensions' with
Conservatives over
broadcast broadcast of
'Battle of Orgreave' decision
Photo news:
Conor visits Age UK Centre
Conor in Parliament:
Conor questions Prime
Minister following statement
on Tunisia
Photo news:
Conor meets with SUBU
President
Conor in the media:
Calls to publish Navitus Bay
report from MP

Photo news:
Food Drive

Conor in Parliament:

Conor in the papers:

'Cutting VAT on tourism
would bring 16m boost to
Bournemouth'

Conor raises Navitus Bay at Business

Questions

Photo news:
Conor presents Kinson
Conservative Club Snooker
Prize

Thursday 11th June 2015

How to contact
Conor Burns MP

Click on the image above to watch Conor's question to the

Leader of the House of Commons.
The full text of the exchance was as follows:
Conor Burns (Bournemouth West): Today is the deadline for the
planning inspectorate to make a recommendation to Ministers at the
Department of Energy and Climate Change after a long-running and
hugely expensive public inquiry into the proposed Navitus Bay
offshore wind farm. Will my right hon. Friend find time for a debate on
whether it is appropriate for this proposal to remain confidential until
the Secretary of State publishes her decision on 11 September? In the
meantime, will he note that this proposal is opposed not only by me,
but by my hon. Friends the Members for Christchurch (Mr Chope), for
Poole (Mr Syms), for Mid Dorset and North Poole (Michael
Tomlinson), for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood), for North Dorset
(Simon Hoare) and anybody else I have forgotten in Dorset?
Chris Grayling Lord President of the Council and Leader of the
House of Commons: I can understand the challenge my hon. Friend
faces in trying to remember all the Conservative MPs in Dorsetthere
are now so many of them in his part of the world. As always, my hon.
Friend is a powerful advocate for his constituency and for the county
of Dorset. I know that the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate
Change will have listened carefully to what he said. It is a sign of the
concern about this matter that an Adjournment debate has been called
next Monday by my hon. Friend the Member for South Dorset
(Richard Drax). I know that my hon. Friend the Member for
Bournemouth West (Conor Burns) will want to make a point in that
debate. I have no doubt that the Secretary of State will have listened
carefully to my hon. Friend, but she has to do this job properly in her
role as assessor of the issues.

Conor in Parliament:

Conor speaks in Adjournment Debate on

the Navitus Bay Windfarm
Monday 15th June 2015

Click on the image above to watch Conor's speech.

The full text of Conor's speech was as follows:
Conor Burns (Bournemouth West): It is a pleasure to speak for the
first time with you in the Chair, Madam Deputy Speaker. I congratulate
you on your elevation. I also congratulate my hon. Friend the Member
for South Dorset (Richard Drax) on securing the debate.
For those Dorset Members who were here in the previous Parliament,
the issue dominated our lives. I looked this afternoon at the number of
times I have raised the issue. I did so first on 12 July 2011, when the
former Member for Eastleigh, Chris Huhne, was the Secretary of State
for Energy and Climate Change. I spoke again on 4 July 2012, 19
November 2013 and 5 December 2013. I posed written questions on
11 June 2014. I raised it at the Culture, Media and Sport Committee
with the then Secretary of State on 19 Januarythis year, and
mentioned it as recently as 11 June 2015.
It is the biggest issue that confronts our constituents across Dorset.
The point my hon. Friend the Member for South Dorset made needs to
be emphasised: every single one of us present tonight made it a major
feature of our election campaigns. Opposition to Navitus and fighting
its detrimental impact on my constituents in Bournemouth West was
the No. 1 promise I made to my electorate in my personal election
address. I am delighted to see new Members joining the fightmy
hon. Friends the Members for North Dorset (Simon Hoare) and for Mid
Dorset and North Poole (Michael Tomlinson).
I place on record the gratitude we all feel to Bournemouth Borough
Council, and in particular to its leader, John Beesley, who has put the
full resources of the council and its officers behind the opposition to
the proposal.
My hon. Friend the Member for South Dorset made an important point
that is worth emphasising: more people registered as interested
parties in this proposed development than in any other offshore
development. I hope the Minister understands, but it should not be
thought that opposition to the proposal is confined to those who live on
the coastline or adjacent to it. When campaigning in my constituency, I
was struck by the opposition of people in the north of Bournemouth
in Kinson and Redhilland by the opposition in Alderney and
Branksome East in the Borough of Poole. I was struck by the
opposition, too, when I campaigned with my hon. Friend the Member
for Mid Dorset and North Poole.
Right from the beginning of the proposal, we said to the company and
to Mike Unsworth that, if we could not see the development, and if the
visual impact was minimal, we would be prepared to work with the
company to bring it to fruition, but in the development zone that the
Crown Estate provided to the company, it is strange that the only area
it deemed capable of development was the area that is closest to the
shore and that has the greatest visual impact.
I understand that the Government have listened intently to other
colleagues and their concerns about onshore wind, and I understand
the Governments resolve to put the brakes on it, but I hope it is not
the case that on is off and off is on. I hope the application will be
determined on its merits. That is all any of us ask. We believe that the
arguments against the proposal are absolutely compelling.
I hope the Minister also notes that, in everything all of us who have
spoken about the proposal over the last Parliament and in the
beginning of this one, we have not sought to take issue with the
Governments energy policy, and we have not sought to discuss the
merits or demerits of renewables. We accept the Governments
energy policy to be exactly that. We contend that the application is
potentially deeply damaging to our communities.
My hon. Friend the Member for South Dorset quoted from the advisory
body to UNESCO, which said that, if the development goes ahead, it
will take the Jurassic coast from being largely in a natural setting to
being largely in a man-made setting. We should be under no illusion
about the fact that UNESCO will revoke the coasts natural world
heritage designation. It has done it in Germany, and threatened to do it
to Mont Saint Michel.
The Minister will rise to speak in a moment, and I have great
sympathy for her. She will be able to say almost nothing about this
matter, because the application is under consideration, and must be
considered quasi-judicially. I can see that you want me to wind up my
speech, Madam Deputy Speaker, but the Minister would probably like
me to continue a little longer.
Our constituents cannot understand that why the Planning
Inspectorates recommendationwhich followed a lengthy public
inquiry that took place throughout last year and during the early part of
this year, and which has now been put to Ministers in the Department
is secret. We think that that is quite wrong. In our view, the matter
should now be out in the open, and debate on it should be welcomed.
Some people will naturally accuse us of being nimbys, but the back
yard of Dorset Members of Parliament is a world heritage site. I plead
with the Minister to implore her colleagues to reject this case on its
merits. Were the project to go ahead, that would be the beginning of
the next phase of the fight, because we are united in our
determination that it shall not proceed.

Photo news:

Conor opens new premises for Crumbs

Conor Burns MP at the ribbon-cutting to open the new premises

for Crumbs in the former Ensbury Park Community Centre.

Conor speaking to residents at the opening of the new centre.

Bournemouth West in Parliament:

Lord Edens Valedictory Speech

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Tuesday 2nd June 2015

Click on the image above to watch Lord Eden's final speech in

the House of Lords.
The full text of the speech was as follows:
Thank you, my Lords. Towards the end of the last Session, under the
terms of the House of Lords Reform Act 2014, I gave notice of my
intention to retire on11 June. I hesitated long before interrupting this
debate with what is now called a valedictory since I know that it places
rather unfortunate constraints on free movement in this House, but I
felt that the precedent had already been set.
We have had four marvellous valedictories. The first was made as
long ago as October 2014 by the noble Lord, Lord Grenfell. That was
a truly memorable speech on his part and it set the pattern, form and
tone for other such speeches to follow. He was well followed by three
other speeches, from my noble friend Lord Jenkin of Roding, the noble
and learned Lord, Lord Lloyd of Berwick, and the noble Viscount, Lord
Tenby. Two other noble Lords whose retirement was announced only
yesterday, the noble Baroness, Lady Warnock, and my noble and
learned friend Lord Mayhew of Twysden, have retired without making
valedictory speeches, but I hope that all those who have gone ahead
will realise how very much they are missed from this House.
I cannot begin to match their record of service, but what I can say is
that the real reason for my going is that I have spent about two-thirds
of my life so far in and around the Palace of Westminster and I thought
that it was about time that I tried my hand at doing something else
while I could still count marbles. My decision to retire, therefore, has
nothing to do with my age. True, if all goes according to plan, I shall be
90 in September. Well, there is nothing particularly magical about that;
it is just another milestone. Let us consider for a moment those 90
year-old stars that still shine so brightly in our midst. Most brilliant of
allin fact, a veritable galaxy in his own rightis that great man, my
noble friend Lord Carrington, whom I was so pleased to see in his
place earlier today. None can match his extraordinary career and
outstanding record of service to this House and the nation. It will be
well known to noble Lords that my noble friend Lord Carrington, has
been frequently called upon to give the memorial address at services
at St Margarets, Westminster, and elsewhere. After one such
occasion I congratulated him but said, What really troubles me is who
we are going to choose to do it for you whenever that time comes.
Dont worry, old boy, he replied with a chuckle, Ive already written
it.
The point of retirement is that it clearly paves the way for good people
to come in ones place. I mention two who have already made their
contributions as maiden speeches in the earlier stages of this
response to the Queens Speech debatemy noble friend Lady Helic
and the noble Lord, Lord Lisvane. They made magnificent speeches
and will clearly make valuable contributions to this House.
As noble Lords will know, anyone who enters the political arena and
embarks upon a political career will need a modicum of good luck. I
was fortunate at the outset in that I was selected to fight two byelections within three monthsone I lost, the other I won. As a result,
in February 1954, when Sir Winston Churchill was still Prime Minister,
I became the youngest Member, for a short time, in the House of
Commons.
I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to my constituents,
who were extraordinarily long suffering. They put up with me for a long
time29 yearsand they were immensely supportive, encouraging
and loyal. Bournemouth was extremely well served by a great local
newspaper, the Daily Echo, which was most generous in its coverage
of my activities and most skilful in its interpretation of my speeches. It
is good that the old constituency is now well represented by the able
and hard-working Conor Burns, a first-class MP, who was rightly given
a resounding vote of confidence at the last general election.
Without doubt the high point of my time in the Commonsapart from
the chairmanship of two Select Committees, which was valuable
experiencewas when I was asked by Ted Heath to be a member of
his Government in two Ministries. They were not easy times, to put it
mildly. Sir Edward Heath was a complex and challenging character but
I greatly valued his friendship. At the end of my time in the Commons,
Margaret Thatcher asked me to be her personal assistant in the 1983
general election. Unlike the caricature so frequently represented of
her, she was a wonderful person to work forinspiring, considerate,
straightforward and sensitive. Having served both Edward Heath and
Margaret Thatcher, I saw and came to understand both sides.
I turn briefly to the subject area of todays debate. I am encouraged by
the wonderful maiden speech we have just heard from the right
reverend Prelate the Bishop of Salisbury to say a word about the
world environment. However, as I introduced a debate on this subject
in March this year, I shall content myself with only one sentence: I
deplore the continued destruction of rainforests across the globe.
Insufficient recognition is given to how serious the situation is. There is
little comprehension of the fact that trees are absolutely vital to sustain
life on earth.
I shall touch on one other issue in the gracious Speech. It states:
Measures will also be brought forward to promote social cohesion
and protect people by tackling extremism.
I hope that the Government will turn their spotlight on the harsh and
hard-hearted treatment of so many Muslim women in this country.
They are often dealt with severely, and the actions in doing so are
justified according to the doctrine of sharia law. But it is UK law which
should guide and control these matters and dictate what is right in this
country, not sharia law. The cause of these women has for some years
been championed by the noble Baroness, Lady Cox, a most
courageous campaigner. She has tabled Questions for Written Answer
and yesterday she presented a Bill to the House which I hope will give
the Government an opportunity to listen more closely to what she has
been saying and to follow the actions that she has suggested.
Before I conclude, I must acknowledge how much is contributed to our
life here by all those who serve us at every level over such a wide
range of functions. By way of illustration, I will mention three
individuals who are well known to many of your Lordships. In the
Bishops Bar, fun, laughter and merriment are rarely absent, and that
is largely thanks to the magnificent Marva James and Angela Dell. In
the Peers Dining Room, there is the incomparable Mary Rose
Cormack, who is a seemingly unstoppable whirlwind of energy and
efficiency. I thank them, and in fact I thank all the officers and staff
wherever they work and whoever they are, because they all matter to
us here. I thank them for their constant cheerfulness and unfailing
courtesy.
And now, as my noble friend Lord Tebbit might say, it is time for me to
get on my bike. Since 1923, when my uncle was elected to the
Commons, there has always been an Eden in Parliament. Before him,
from the 17th century onwards, the family has produced generations
of Members of Parliament, mostly for the county of Durham. The
tradition of public service in the Armed Forces, in diplomacy, in the
church, in politics and in social work is deeply embedded in our family
genes. I am glad to say that our banner will still be borne aloft in the
immensely capable hands of my noble kinsman Lord Henley.
My purpose for interrupting this debate was really just to thank all
noble Lords wherever they sit in the House for so generously
accepting me here throughout the 32 years that I have been around
the place. From now on I shall be watching from the sidelines the
continuing good work and careful scrutiny that noble Lords give to
legislation and the excellent debates in which they take part. It
therefore remains for me to say only this: good luck for the future
whatever it may be, and goodbye.

Conor with Lord Eden during the 2015 General Election campaign.

Conor in the papers:

BBC accused of 'reheating tensions' with

Conservatives over broadcast broadcast of
'Battle of Orgreave' decision
Christopher Hope, Chief Political Correspondent,
Daily Telegraph
Friday 12th June 2015
The BBC has been accused of
trying to reheat tensions in
mining communities against the
Conservatives and the memory of Margaret Thatcher by giving
prominence to a decision not to investigate alleged misconduct by
police during the miners' strike three decades ago.
South Yorkshire Police - which is already under intense scrutiny over
its role in the Hillsborough disaster - faced claims that officers used
"excessive force" against picketing miners, manipulated statements
and gave false evidence in court after clashes outside Orgreave
coking plant 31 years ago.
But following a two-year analysis of thousands of pages of documents
related to the case, the Independence Police Complaints Commission
announced it had decided not to launch an investigation, prompting
one group to brand the watchdog not fit for purpose.
The IPCCs decision about the so-called "Battle of Orgreave" ran
prominently BBC news bulletins for much of Friday, attracting anger
from some Conservative MPs.
Conor Burns MP, a close friend of Baroness Thatcher in the years
before her death in 2013 and a Conservative member of the
Commons Culture, Media and Sport committee in the last Parliament,
said he was bemused by the BBCs prominent coverage.
He said the BBC had given voice to opinions against Mrs Thatcher,
adding: "It just seemed to me to be an attempt to reheat tensions and
divisions that had long passed into study by historians.
The simmering hatred against Mrs Thatcher and the Tories still had to
be debated all these years later.
Of course there were therefore going to be clashes between those
upholding the rule of law and those supporting rule by the mob.
Fortunately the rule of law won.
Andrew Bridgen, Conservative MP for North West Leicestershire,
added: As an MP representing a former mining area we want to put
the miners strike behind us and we would like the BBC to let us.
South Yorkshire Police voluntarily referred itself to the IPCC following
media reports about its handling of proceedings at the Rotherham
plant during the 1984 miners' strike.
A BBC documentary broadcast in 2012 featured allegations that some
police who were involved in prosecutions colluded when they wrote
their statements.
The Inside Out programme investigated the events following the arrest
of more than 90 people at Orgreave, which saw some of the most
shocking and memorable scenes of the year-long dispute.
Those charged with riot were later cleared after doubts were raised
about police evidence.
Campaigners are calling for a Hillsborough-style inquiry into South
Yorkshire Police's handling of the violence.
The IPCC said it had not found any direct evidence that senior
officers within South Yorkshire Police conspired to instruct colleagues
to commit perjury.
The Home Office said Theresa May, the Home Secretary, will carefully
consider the findings of the IPCC's review and respond in due
course.
A BBC spokesman said: "The IPCC announcement today is a
nationally significant story which others news outlets, including the
Telegraph, Daily Mail and Sky News are also reporting and therefore
share the view it is newsworthy.
"We covered Orgreave proportionately, following other key stories
including the sentencing of Eleanor Hawkins and mental health
failings.

Photo news:

Conor visits Age UK Centre

Conor speaking with residents at his visit to the Age UK centre.

Conor in Parliament:

Conor questions Prime Minister following

statement on Tunisia
Monday 29th June 2015

Click on the image above to watch Conor's question to the Prime

Minister.
!
The full text of the exchance was as follows:
Conor Burns (Bournemouth West): The right hon. and learned
Member for Camberwell and Peckham (Ms Harman) rightly
highlighted the appalling treatment of gay people and women by those
who subscribe to this evil belief. Is there not something powerfully
symbolic, particularly to young Muslim women, in the fact that it is a
female Home Secretary who, in the aftermath of this attack, is
standing in solidarity with them in Tunisia today?
David Cameron, The Prime Minister, Leader of the Conservative
Party: My hon. Friend makes an important point. Indeed, the role of
women was an important one in Tunisian democracy, moving the
country towards the democratic future that we hope it will continue.

Photo news:

Conor meets with SUBU President

Conor Burns with SUBU President Chloe Schendel-Wilson.

Conor in the media:

Calls to publish Navitus Bay report from MP

BBC News
Friday 12th June 2015
A government examination of plans for a 3.5bn
offshore wind farm should be published, an MP
has said.
The Planning Inspectorate has now made its recommendation on the
Navitus Bay project off Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to the
government.
However, the details given to Energy Secretary Amber Rudd do not
have to be revealed for up to three months.
Conor Burns, the Conservative MP for Bournemouth West has called
for greater transparency.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Burns called for time to be
made for a debate on the appropriateness of the decision being
withheld until publication by government in September.
Last month, the firm behind the planned project revealed it had
decided to use fewer, higher more powerful turbines.
Its Navitus Bay plan A, costing 3.5bn, would see 121 8MW turbines
each 200m (656ft) high, instead of a maximum of 194 less powerful
options.
All local councils, except the Isle of Wight Council, are against the
scheme which campaigners fear will hit tourism.
Navitus Bay said the project would boost the area's economy by
1.6bn and would create about 1,700 jobs during the four years it
takes to build and 140 local permanent jobs.
If it goes ahead, the farm could generate enough power for up to
700,000 homes, the firm said.

Photo news:

Food Drive

Conor with volunteers at Kinson Tesco collecting donated items

as part of the Food Drive initiative.

Conor in the papers:

'Cutting VAT on tourism would bring 16m

boost to Bournemouth'
Darren Slade, Bournemouth Echo
Friday 26th June 2015
Cutting VAT on the tourism
industry to five per cent would
boost Bournemouth's economy by 16m a year, it is claimed.
Campaigners say the cut, from the current 20 per cent, would create
542 jobs in the town.
The Campaign to Cut Tourism VAT also claims the reform would
improve the UKs balance of trade by more than 20bn over 10 years.
But one of the town's MPs said the time is not right for the reform
while the government is still running a large deficit.
Graham Wason, chief executive of the Campaign to Cut Tourism VAT,
said: There is a clear and compelling economic argument for
reducing the VAT on tourist attractions and accommodation. It will halt
the long term decline in UKs tourism balance of payments and
improve the UK trade balance by 20bn over 10 years. As the third
largest services export earner, tourism deserves much greater
recognition for its contribution in lowering the UK trade deficit.
The UK is currently ranked 140 out of 141 countries for price
competitiveness in tourism and its about time that tourists were
given a better deal when holidaying in the UK.
The campaign welcomed the Cole Commission report highlighting the
importance of export-led growth. It pointed to analysis by Nevin
Associates that said the VAT reduction would reduce the UKs balance
of trade deficit by 632m in year one, 1.1bn in year two and by
20.1bn over 10 years, at 2015 prices.
But Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns, who sits on the culture,
media and sport select committee, which has considered the issue,
suggested the reform would have to wait.
It carries an up-front cost and it would be several years before the
revenue benefit would outweigh the revenue decrease, he said.
With the government still spending some 90bn more than were
bringing in each year in tax revenue, I think its an idea whose time will
come when the government books are in balance again.
Whilst I continue to advocate it and support it, I wouldnt want to
artificially get peoples hopes up.
The campaign argues that tourism is price-sensitive and a reduction in
VAT would dramatically increase the countrys foreign exchange
spending from overseas visitors, who account for around 40 per cent
of spending on accommodation and attractions.
It also says there would be less spending by UK residents on
holidaying abroad.

Photo news:

Conor presents Kinson Conservative Club

Snooker Prize

Conor presenting the Kinson Conservative Club Snooker Prize at

the Federation Meeting.

Three ways to contact Conor Burns MP:

By Phone: 01202 534 888
By email: mail@conorburns.com
By post: Conor Burns MP
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA

www.conorburns.com

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