I am always proud to bang the drum for BAE Systems and Westinghouse, Fylde’s two largest employers. Visits by a Secretary of State are far from a regular occurrence, so to have two visiting Fylde on the same day is a testament to the Warton and Springfields sites’ importance to our strategic defence and energy priorities.
Firstly, I met with Rt Hon Claire Coutinho MP, the Secretary of State for Energy, discussing Government backing for nuclear energy projects like the production of HALEU fuel and new large scale nuclear power stations, both of which will boost jobs and investment at Springfields. From Salwick it was on to Warton, where I accompanied the Defence Secretary Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP as he toured BAE Systems’ Factory of the Future, meeting with those working on the Global Combat Air Project, Team Tempest.
It was a poignant day, coinciding with retaliatory strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen following attacks on Red Sea shipping and, with the war in Ukraine approaching its third year, it was a reminder of how vital it is that we work with our allies to deter those who threaten our freedoms.
An ongoing local priority for me is broadband connectivity, and while the latest statistics show that 86% of Fylde residents now have access to superfast broadband, this remains a particular issue for Fylde’s smaller rural communities. This digital divide must be closed if we are to truly level up for all areas, not just towns and cities, a point I raised in Parliament last week as I asked Ministers for an update on the Government’s project Gigabit, which is using public funds to connect up those areas beyond what is deemed ‘commercially viable’ by broadband providers.
Lancashire is part of a cross regional contract due to be signed later this summer. While the contracted work is estimated to take around three years to complete, thanks to £149.7 million of Government’s support, there is at last an end in sight for those without a superfast connection.
Like so many people, I have been deeply moved by the experience of countless Sub-Postmasters due to the Horizon Post Office Scandal. The Government has committed to righting this historical wrong, quashing unfair convictions and ensuring that compensation is awarded at the earliest opportunity. Too many innocent people have seen their lives and livelihoods ruined by these miscarriages of justice and last week I met with Fylde based Sub-Postmasters affected by the scandal. It was harrowing to hear their stories and the continuing impact of their experience.
While the recent television drama has caught the public’s imagination, it is a cause that the Government has been pursuing for some time. Last year saw the Government introduce new legislation to do just that, passing through the House of Commons before Christmas, and is now progressing in the House of Lords prior to becoming law. Having heard the deeply moving stories of local sub-postmasters, this cannot come a moment too soon.