ANNUAL REPORT

JULIAN SMITH
Member of Parliament for Skipton & Ripon

2013

Annual Report 2013

Contents

Welcome
page 5 page 6 page 8

Westminster Skipton & Ripon Protecting Rural Yorkshire

page 10 page 10

Broadband Tour de France

page 12 page 14

Keep In Touch
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2013
over 12,000 over 4,000 3,487 147 31
followers on twitter e-mails sent to julian.smith.mp@parliament.uk constituent cases dealt with

The Year in Numbers

Welcome

Julian Smith MP

2013 was another busy year both at Westminster and across the constituency. There are positive signs on the economys recovery, both across the constituency and around the country. I hope the action the Government is taking means that can continue during the 12 months to come. One of the main campaigns I worked on is the Tour de France coming to Yorkshire, which I think will be a highlight for our area and the County in 2014. It is 12 months since we heard that Yorkshire had won the bid to host the Grand Depart and we are now just a few months away from it arriving in Craven. There is more on this on page 12 of this Report. One of the other areas I have been focusing on in 2013 is high speed broadband and ensuring as many constituents as possible have access to improved broadband services. I have been working on this since my election in 2010 and progress is being made, but I know that it can be frustrating if your house or business is one of those who havent yet seen any improvements in speed. Read more about my work on this on page 10. Also on page 10 is more on another major issue - the planning process. In such a beautiful constituency as ours, it is perhaps inevitable that there will be conflict between those who want to build and those who want to preserve the landscape. Getting the balance right is always important. We need business in this area to provide jobs and services but we also need to protect the stunning views and amazing countryside that makes this area so special. I hope this Annual Report gives a flavour of the work I have been doing across the constituency and at Westminster and if I can do anything to assist you during 2014, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

speeches made, interventions made or questions asked in Parliament

MP Surgeries in

13 locations

Data correct at 9 January 2014

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Westminster
It has been a busy year at Westminster with some important debates on key issues that matter to residents and businesses across Skipton and Ripon.

The Year in Parliament

SUPPORTING PUBS AND BREWERS ACROSS SKIPTON & RIPON

Julian joined the successful campaign for a reduction in the duty on beer which local pubs and brewers had campaigned for.

The constituency had success at the Countryside Alliance Awards with enterprising business parks, pubs and butchers receiving recognition.

RURAL OSCARS CELEBRATE BEST OF ENTERPRISE

The economy was, of course, a key topic. Statistics show positive economic improvements both in Yorkshire and across Skipton and Ripon. The number of people out of work and claiming Jobseekers Allowance went down by 28% in one year and youth unemployment also went down by a third in 12 months. Through the year, Julian supported the campaign to give a referendum on our membership of the European Union. Although scuppered by Labour and Lib Dem members of the House of Lords, the Conservatives remain committed to giving the British people a say in deciding Britain's future in the EU. Julian believes we must seize the opportunity and give people a choice about the future. Holding people and organisations to account has also been a theme of 2013 in Parliament - from discussing important issues of National Security to the rise in energy prices. Julian focused on Yorkshire Water and has been campaigning for the firm to be much more transparent about their financial information and tax status at a time when they are putting up bills in the constituency. Julian instigated a debate in the House of Commons to discuss the issue and he raised important points about their financial affairs which Yorkshire Water has still failed to answer.

During Ermysteds visit to Westminster, sixth form pupils had the chance to debate the key issues that matter to them with Julian in a House of Commons Committee Room.

DEBATING ISSUES WITH PUPILS FROM SKIPT ON

SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESS ACROSS NORTH YORKSHIRE

Julian was appointed by the Prime Minister as a Small Business Ambassador for Yorkshire promoting the work of the firms across the region.

Schools from across Skipton & Ripon visited in 2013 including Skipton Girls High School pupils in the final of the Solutions for the Planet Competition .

WELCOMING PUPIL FROM SCHOOLS TO S WESTMINSTER

Peers were welcomed to the Yorkshire Dales by Julian as they held their annual walk around Ingleton and Settle.

SHOWING OFF THE DALES TO LEADING PARLIAMENTARIANS MPs and

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Skipton & Ripon

The Year in the Constituency

Ensuring hardworking people see the benefits of the economic recovery and that we get investment in Skipton and Ripon was Julians priority in 2013. There was positive news on fuel duty with the Chancellor announcing his intention to freeze duty on petrol and diesel until May 2015. Julian also campaigned for more security over the funding for the rural schools. After campaigning, changes to the way money could be divided among schools were introduced giving local authorities greater flexibility to support those at the heart of communities. Julian believes this flexibility will enable the high quality teaching we have in some of the most rural communities in the country to continue. There was more Government investment confirmed in the constituency, 10m for the Tour de Frances Grand Depart, 9.7m for flood defences in Skipton, 2m for new facilities at Craven College and 600,000 for school sports across the constituency. However, it was with great sadness that during 2013 Julian heard the news from the Secretary of State for Defence in the House of Commons that Claro Barracks in Ripon was to close after 2017. Since the announcement, Julian has met with the Defence Minister and held meetings in Ripon to ensure all those affected by the decision are given all the support possible. Those efforts will continue in 2014.

NEW LOOK POST OFFICE BRANCH OPENED IN SETTLE

Julian re-opened Settles Post Office after a revamp which sees it opening for longer and offering more services at the heart of the community.

A group was formed to drive forward improvements to Skiptons Aireville Park. Julian joined the campaigners to hear about their work.

SEEING WORK TO IMPROVE SKIPTONS AIREVILLE PARK

ents at Ripon Evolve quizzed Julian about his life as a Member of Parliament and work at Westminster and in the constituency during a visit .

DISCUSSING LIFE AS A MP WITH RIPON EVOLVE STUDENTS Stud

DISCUSSING FARMING AT ANNUALIT AGRICULTURE SUMM

Kettlesing was the location for Julians annual Summit focused on the issues and challenges facing the farming and agricultural community.

set the challenge of learning some Makaton sign language. He passed the test and was rewarded with tea and cake!

LEARNING MAKATO SIGN LANGUAGE WIN TH BROOKLANDS PUPIL S Julian was

Julian visited shops and businesses in Settle on Small Business Saturday in December to hear about their work and wish list for 2014.

VISITING SETTLE SH S ON SMALL BUSINESOP S SATURDAY

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Broadband North Yorkshire

Connecting homes and businesses

The roll-out of superfast broadband to North Yorkshire, which Julian led the campaign for, is on schedule with the target of 90% of North Yorkshire having speeds of at least 25Mbs by the end of 2014. In addition, phase two of the project to extend superfast speeds to even more premises is set to bring high speed connections to more parts of the County. Julian urges the Superfast North Yorkshire team to continue their roll-out to as many people as possible as quickly as possible.

BURTON AST BROADBAND IN LAUNCHING SUPERF SES ES SIN BU D AN LEONARD WITH RESIDENTS ially launch Superfast Broadband in
Julian went to Burton Leonard to offic es and businesses in Burton the community. Nearly one in five hom and demand is still growing as people Leonard signed up for the scheme eased speeds of up to 80Mbps. continue to place orders for the incr

3,000 homes and businesses across Ripon are now able to benefit from higher broadband speeds. Julian attended the switch-on in July .

RIPON GOES SUPERFAST

Protecting Rural Yorkshire

Ensuring the communitys voice is heard

Julian spoke regularly in Parliament in 2013 about the importance of local communities having their say over planning applications in the areas in which they live. He continues to be concerned about the overturning of decisions by the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol and will work both at Westminster and in the constituency to ensure that decisions made locally, by elected representatives, are not overturned by bureaucrats . More on Julians work on the issue on his website at juliansmithmp.com

ES HAVE THEIR SAY OVER ENSURING COMMUNITI ND FARMS THE LOCATION OF ONSHORE WI campaigning against onshore
who are Julian has supported communities during 2013. He also welcomed the area r thei in t buil g wind farms bein from Chelker Reservoir after they decision by Kelda to remove turbines permission for larger structures. were unsuccessful in bids to obtain

Neighbourhood Plans are important for the future of communities and Julian has supported Ripons efforts to engage residents and businesses in the City Plan process through 2013.

RIPON CITY PLAN

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Tour de France

Preparing for the Grand Depart

EELS FOR THE TOUR DE GETTING ON TWO WH DEN FRANCE DOORSTEP TOUR IN BUCK
It is 12 months since we heard that Yorkshire won the bid to host the Grand Depart and we are now just a few months away from it arriving in the region. Julian has held dozens of meetings at Westminster ahead of the Tour de Frances arrival. He has worked with the events organisers to ensure plans are in place and led the effort to secure 10m of Government funding to fully unlock the economic benefits for our area. Julian also went on the road with a Doorstep Tour - to Skipton, Kettlewell, Threshfield and Buckden - to encourage everyone to embrace the opportunity to promote our area to the world. Julian says: We are lucky to have so much of the race coming through our area on both days of the Grand Depart. The sight of the cyclists, and the huge supporting entourage that accompanies the Tour de France, travelling up Skipton High Street, through the Dales to Masham and past Ripon on Day One and Nidderdale and Bolton Abbey as backdrops on Day Two, will be stunning. The weekend of Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July promises to bring tens of thousands of people to Yorkshire and I am sure it will bring many more in the weeks and months following that weekend as well. It promises to be one of the spectacles of 2014.
Photo above courtesy of Steve Garnett at the Craven Herald

S HEARING HOW SHOP ON NG ISI ARE CAPITAL TDF OPPORTUNITIES

uding Skipton High Street, Threshfield, Kettlewell, Buckden, Masham, Ripon Bypass and the A61

DAY 1: SATURDAY 5 JULY SKIPTON, WHARFEDALE, MASHAM & RIPON Incl

SPEAKING IN MASHAM ABOUT TDF BENEFITS FOR THE COMMUNITY

Find out more about Julians work on the Tour de France on juliansmithmp.com/tdf and more on the Grand Depart itself at letour.yorkshire.com

Including the A59 from Harrogate across Menwith Hill and Blubberhouses to Beamsley and Bolton Abbey

DAY 2: SUNDAY 6 JUL BLUBBERHOUSES & Y BOLTON ABBEY

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Keep In Touch
Julian holds regular MP Surgeries across the constituency. Since 2010 he has taken these to more parts of the constituency than ever before: Austwick Bentham Bentham Auction Mart Carleton Cowling Dishforth Grassington Ingleton Kettlesing Kettlewell Langthorpe Leathley Masham Pateley Bridge Pateley Bridge Auction Mart Ripon Settle Skipton Skipton Auction Mart Sutton-in-Craven Wath

Contacting Julian all year round

The House of Commons London SW1A 0AA 7 Gargrave Road, Broughton, Skipton BD23 3AQ 020 7219 7145

julian.smith.mp@parliament.uk

juliansmithmp.com

facebook.com/juliansmithmp

@juliansmithmp
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 Julian Smith MP 2014

Promoted by Simon Myers on behalf of Skipton and Ripon Conservatives, both of 19 Otley Street, Skipton BD23 1DY.