Closing Immigration Loopholes at Stansted Airport

Today in Parliament I urged the Prime Minister to close a dangerous immigration loophole at Stansted airport.

Our full exchange was:

Robert Halfon (Harlow): Given the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee next year, is the Prime Minister aware that immigration and special branch officers at Stansted Airport are concerned that the "Common Area Travel Channel" in its current form allows illegal migrants, Islamists, and terrorists into the country without their Passports being checked. Will he take urgent steps to close this loophole immediately?

David Cameron (Prime Minister): My Honourable Friend makes an important point. What I would say is that Passport-free travel between the UK, the crown dependencies and the Republic of Ireland has been in place for many years and it does offer some real economic and social benefits. I do accept these routes can be open to abuse and we are determined to resolve this. The UK Border Agency is working very closely with Ireland and others to make sure this happens. But we've got to try to do that, without disadvantaging people who've been able to take advantage of the "Common Area Travel Channel" upto now.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Tackling Youth Unemployment

Over the last ten years, youth unemployment has nearly doubled to one million young people, rising steadily throughout the last decade. This was not a by-product of the Credit Crunch. For many years, Britain has struggled with poor schools, poor skills, and poor Government programmes.

In the last decade, teachers were spread too thinly. Maths and English suffered, and half a million children left primary school unable to read or write.

This impacts our skills. Today, just one third of British workers qualify as apprentices or gain technical skills. But in France the figure is 51 per cent, and in Germany it is 65 per cent. Our working age population is less skilled than France, Germany, and the US, and as a result, we are at least 15 per cent less productive than those countries.

The Government’s education reforms are welcome: a massive increase in Academy schools, a renewed emphasis on reading and writing, 250,000 new apprenticeships and 24 new University Technical Colleges, which will be led by local employers.

The Work Programme will be the centrepiece of the most sweeping welfare reform for 60 years: paying by results, to help people off benefits and into sustainable jobs.

But one of the most important changes, will be transforming apprenticeships and on-the-job training. Government plans to scrap up-front fees will help, as will enhancing the Level 3 apprenticeship to “Technician Level”. The UTCs will be revolutionary. Lord Baker has designed them as a conveyor belt to University in subjects like engineering, building design, and medical science. They will take students from pre-apprenticeship training at 14-years old, right through to Level 4 apprenticeships at 19-years old.

In fact some these policies are already coming to fruition. Through the determination of John Hayes (our Skills Minister), apprenticeships have been completely re-geared. There are signs the number of apprentices in England could hit 500,000 before 2015.

But we need to do more, to change the culture of apprenticeships, so they are seen as being as prestigious as going to university.

That is why a few weeks ago I launched a new “Apprentice Card” with the NUS. In a nutshell, the Card will finally put apprentices on a level-playing field with academic students, giving them similar discounts at high street stores, as well as free support services and legal advice - estimated at a value of £500. It will be the very first step towards establishing a National Society of Apprentices.

The effect of youth unemployment has been devastating for Britain, especially in recent years. But I believe with more Academies, the Work Programme, John Hayes’ apprenticeship reforms, and also with efforts like the Apprentice Card, there is some cause for hope.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com

Tabloid Newspapers: Power without Responsibility?

No one can deny that the News of the World (NoW) alleged activities in the 'phone hacking' scandal have been most disgusting and those involved deserve to face the full force of law.

Sadly, I doubt that this kind of activity is just restricted to one tabloid newspaper. This has probably been going on for years, given the ease in which mobile phones can be hacked into. It is likely that other newspapers - alongside News of the World - have been doing the same.

However, despite these disgraceful alleged actions of some employees of NoW, (one of the News Corp Companies), it is not necessarily reflective of all of the companies - such as The Times and Sky TV -which are regarded as providing quality.

On the merger of BSkyB, the decision has been made is quasi-judicial - and would be quite open to legal challenge if it had gone the other way.

Nevertheless, tomorrow there will be a debate in the Commons about this scandal. It will provide an important opportunity to look at the role of the media in our country - particularly the part that tabloids play. Has the balance of tabloid largesse swung too far against common decency?

As was once said early in the last Century, by former Conservative Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin: "newspapers exercise power without responsibility, the prerogative of the Harlot throughout the ages".

Remembering Ronald Reagan

A very special evening in the Guildhall. The event was to commemorate the unveiling of a statue of Ronald Reagan in Grosvenor Square this morning. William Hague, Liam Fox and Condoleeza Rice were all guest-speakers, and all spoke about human values of freedom and democracy.

Reagan was a great American President, and a champion of these values. He stood up to Soviet Communism, and alongside Margaret Thatcher brought about the end of the Cold War. At the time he was he much under-rated. History judges this President very differently.

As Reagan once said: "give people the freedom to choose and they will always choose freedom". Worth remembering as we watch events in the Middle East.

You can read more HERE.

Harlow Community Update

A really good few days of community visits: On Thursday, after a day in Parliament, I went to Burnt Mill School to meet Pact Harlow and the Karate Club. They are preparing for the Triathlon in London on 30 July.

Friday saw me at The Sowerby Group, a brand new advertising business in the Greenway Centre. This forward looking company looks after blue chip clients like The Daily Express and Daily Telegraph. They also give state of the art social media advice too.

Saturday saw me at Prentice Place for an open MPs surgery - with local Councillor Clive Souter, and caseworker John Steer - in which residents could come and see me without appointment. After, it was straight to Church Langley Tesco for the local Councillors' monthly Surgery, and a chance to chat with shoppers. I was pleased to also offer support for Help for Heroes who were busy raising thousands for our armed forces.

Sunday meant a trip to Holy Cross School Fete. This has become an annual visit and it was good to chat to Headmistress, Sue Mcguigan. Holy Cross is soon to become an Academy - not surprising given its excellent academic results.

Then a short food-stop to Old Harlow Barbecue, organised by local Conservatives and after to the amazing Heart 4 Harlow, Praise in the Park.

Many of the Town's churches, charities and Christians had gathered in the Town Park for fun, song and prayer. It was an inspiration.