In this month’s column I provide the latest update in my ongoing campaign to protect long-term land-based education here in Cumbria, reflect on the life of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, welcome non-essential retail re-opening so that we can hopefully see our local economy bounce back from the difficult days of lockdown, and finally touch on my visits to two vaccination centres at Penrith Hospital and the Auction Mart.
As readers will know, the cross-party group of MPs on the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Select Committee, on which I sit, has been conducting an Inquiry on national Land-based Education and examining Newton Rigg. As a result of our findings, we have now written to the Department for Education, urging the Government to implement a national strategy for land-based skills and education, backed by adequate funding. With the distressing situation at Newton Rigg serving as a vivid illustration of the difficulties facing land-based institutions, our Committee calls on the Government to tighten the safeguards on the sale of land-based educational assets. We have asked for confirmation about the details of the previous transfer of the college and urge the Government to help facilitate a reasonable solution to the college’s future.
Furthermore, our EFRA Select Committee has raised serious questions over the details of Askham Bryan’s planned exit from Newton Rigg and Cumbria. We were disappointed in the evidence Askham Bryan gave us, both orally and in writing, with attempts to deflect responsibility away from themselves. We note, in answer to my questions, that they agreed they have a moral obligation to the learners and rural community of Cumbria to ensure a smooth and fair transfer of Newton Rigg to potential future providers. We are calling for Government to confirm whether or not Askham Bryan are within their legal rights to sell the College land and assets. If they are, we are asking Government to ensure that Askham Bryan live up to this moral obligation so that we can secure a long term future for land-based education delivered here in Cumbria, which is exactly what our inquiry heard that Cumbria needs and indeed must have. In questioning Askham Bryan in our Inquiry, I, as a member of the EFRA Committee, was able to get Askham Bryan to confirm that if they were within their rights to sell, that they do not actually need to achieve market value if the new owners continue with the charitable goals. I continue to work with local stakeholders and Government to secure both short and long term solutions for the provision of land-based education in Cumbria, and for a new Newton Rigg to emerge, which is what we all want.
In other news, it was an honour and privilege to be able to pay tribute to His Royal Highness Prince Philip during the Commons parliamentary tribute session on behalf of the constituents of Penrith and The Border. Prince Philip was a tireless public servant and he certainly left a wonderful legacy in the protection of the environment and young people’s education, areas so important to us in Cumbria with our wonderful natural environment and outdoor education centres. It was fantastic to see members from across the House come together collegiately to send our condolences to the Royal Family and thank Prince Philip for his tireless service to the Queen, the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. Prince Philip was a regular visitor to our area, including being a champion and supporter of Carriage Driving. He was an exceptional horseman, a keen competitor, and liked to be treated just the same as other competitors at events like the Lowther Horse Driving Trials.
Since my last column, we have had the re-opening of non-essential retail, which I know has been a great relief to business owners and people more generally. Alongside hairdressers and pubs (albeit only welcoming customers outdoors) many more businesses have been offered the opportunity to welcome customers back into their premises. In a year in which we have seen a significant change in how we shop, these small local businesses need our support more than ever. It has been a time when we have adapted to online shopping, with the big players seeing a huge rise in sales and profits. However, this is now a key moment as local small and medium sized businesses who have been unable to open now need our custom more than ever. Importantly for the Cumbrian tourism sector, self-contained accommodation such as campsites and holiday lets, and many outdoor attractions also re-opened.
The re-opening of non-essential retail has been made possible partly because of the successful progress of the vaccine rollout. I was privileged to get the opportunity to visit the vaccination centres at Penrith Hospital and at the Auction Mart. I would like to give my sincere thanks to all the staff and volunteers at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust and the North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group for their fantastic efforts with vaccine delivery across our area. It is because of their efforts we are on track for all adults to have been offered their first vaccine by the end of July.