[Stronsaylimpet] Fwd: Tidal power and farming support - the week in Parliament

[Limpet editor]

Your weekly roundup of the news from Parliament.
Liberal Democrats 
<https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69794481/427320457/2016635893?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjJlYjU2Mzg1LWVkNTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=v0HmDucE5amiDD09fwYnX8WelS3mZFmgwLaeQvj4n5o=&emci=589cc514-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=2eb56385-ed53-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233>

Parliament returned to session last week and the mood has already 
shifted noticeably. Political lines are being sharpened and battle lines 
are being drawn.

By this time next year we will almost certainly already have had our 
next general election – or an autumn campaign will be reaching its peak 
(we have to hope that a winter election, at least, will be out of the 
question!).

It has to be said that both our parties of government, in Westminster 
and indeed in Holyrood, are looking increasingly tired and short on 
ideas – but even with a short span remaining until the next election 
there is still plenty to fit on the agenda, from tidal stream support to 
farm payments.

*Success for tidal stream energy but a new goal needed *

Last week brought welcome news that seven further tidal stream projects 
have secured contracts in the UK Government’s latest renewable auction, 
including two in the Northern Isles – a further vote of confidence in 
the potential of tidal stream to transform how we manage energy in this 
country.

I am glad that the government has not let up on support for this sector. 
We need to continue that big picture mentality from ministers and ramp 
up development further, by setting a new 1 gigawatt target for tidal 
stream deployment – a point I made to ministers in Parliament 
<https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69794485/427320461/1547236698?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjJlYjU2Mzg1LWVkNTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=v0HmDucE5amiDD09fwYnX8WelS3mZFmgwLaeQvj4n5o=&emci=589cc514-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=2eb56385-ed53-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233> 
on Tuesday.

There is plenty to criticise in the government’s energy policy, but the 
support and expansion of tidal stream is a genuine success story – and 
one which has the potential to drive significant benefits for our 
communities. The one thing we cannot do is rest on our laurels.

*Viking threat to the isles?*

I cannot have been the only one to have noticed and questioned the 
presence of the Border Force vessel HMC Valiant in the Northern Isles 
earlier this summer – a point I put to the Immigration Minister last 
week 
<https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69794504/427320466/-289302432?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjJlYjU2Mzg1LWVkNTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=v0HmDucE5amiDD09fwYnX8WelS3mZFmgwLaeQvj4n5o=&emci=589cc514-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=2eb56385-ed53-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233>. 
You might reasonably ask why, if the Government’s attention is so 
strongly focused on crossings in the channel, one of only four Border 
Force cutters spent so much time this summer tied up at a pier in Orkney.

We do have a history of people coming in small boats to Orkney and 
Shetland, but the Vikings have been quiet for quite a while now.

People in the isles have every right to question why the Border Force 
has been plying its trade around our waters. If it is not to tackle 
longships in the Pentland Firth then presumably there should be a good 
reason forthcoming from ministers.

*Half a mark back on a failing grade – the government rejoins Horizon 
research scheme*

After three years of waiting, last week finally brough news that the UK 
has reached a deal on associate membership of Horizon, the EU’s science 
research scheme. UK-based scientists and institutions will be able to 
apply for money from the £81bn fund once again – welcome news both in 
terms of funding opportunities and research partnerships. It should not 
have taken this long but it is progress nonetheless.

Even so this is just a half mark back on a failing grade for the Tories. 
The delay in rejoining has been a drag on research and cooperation. 
Ministers have to explain what they will do to further support the 
research sector so that we can catch up and make the most of our membership.

*Meeting with NFUS leaders and Back British Farming*

This week also brought the opportunity to catch up with colleagues from 
the NFUS 
<https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69794507/427320489/2135036584?fbid=702929354982624&set=a.353329166609313&nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjJlYjU2Mzg1LWVkNTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=v0HmDucE5amiDD09fwYnX8WelS3mZFmgwLaeQvj4n5o=&emci=589cc514-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=2eb56385-ed53-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233> 
at a Back British Farming in Parliament to talk about the challenges 
they are facing. Now more than ever we need to celebrate and support the 
work that farmers and crofters and the agriculture industry do, not just 
in filling our supermarket shelves but as a lynchpin of the rural economy.

With the agricultural industry facing an uncertain future regarding the 
future of support payments, there is real anxiety about what the future 
holds. Whether it is the future of farm payments, fair play on 
fertiliser costs or any other number of volatile input costs impacting 
farmers, both our governments need to prioritise the stability of 
farming and crofting communities.

*Parliamentary recognition for isles representation at the SFF *

Fishing remains one of the cornerstones of our economy in the Northern 
Isles, so the election of representatives from both Orkney and Shetland 
to be president and vice-president of the Scottish Fishermen’s 
Federation last month deserves full recognition. That is why I lodged a 
parliamentary motion this week to congratulate Hannah Fennell, head of 
the Orkney Fisheries Association, and Sheila Keith, executive officer of 
Shetland Fishermen’s Association, in their new roles.

I look forward to continuing to work with both Hannah and Sheila to 
support our fishermen and drive better engagement from our governments. 
This is a critical time for the industry, but with strong representation 
we have the best chance to get the wins we need – for sustainable jobs 
and a fair deal on policy into the future.

*New surgery dates*

And finally – after an action-packed summer of Tunnel Vision events in 
Shetland and a circuit around the isles in Orkney, there are more advice 
surgeries on the agenda for the autumn. There will be a surgery in 
Lerwick on 11th October, and surgeries with Liam McArthur in Stromness 
and Kirkwall on the 13th October – full details can be found here 
<https://click.ngpvan.com/k/69794510/427320491/-1494749749?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9MSUJVSy9MSUJVSy8xLzM4NTM1IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjJlYjU2Mzg1LWVkNTMtZWUxMS05OTM3LTAwMjI0ODMyZTgxMSIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAicmljYXJkaWFuQGNsYXJlbW9udHN0cm9uc2F5LmNvLnVrIg0KfQ%3D%3D&hmac=v0HmDucE5amiDD09fwYnX8WelS3mZFmgwLaeQvj4n5o=&emci=589cc514-e553-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=2eb56385-ed53-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=397233>, 
and more dates to come.

As ever, if there are any issues that you would like to raise with me, 
please do not hesitate to get in touch - and for specific casework 
matters you can contact me at alistair.carmichael.mp at parliament.uk.

Yours ever,

*Alistair Carmichael *

*MP for Orkney and Shetland*


-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://stronsaylimpet.co.uk/pipermail/stronsaylimpet_stronsaylimpet.co.uk/attachments/20230915/81de8feb/attachment.htm>