I have had two meetings this week with Government Ministers about local affairs. 
I always hope for a friendly one-to-one but I have learnt that this never actually happens. 

The first one was with Lord Hunt who is Minister of State in DEFRA and in the new Department of Energy and Climate Change where his responsibilities include energy innovation and emerging technologies. 
It was to request his help in getting a reduction in the rate of tax levied on Clean Fuel Oil, produced from waste oil by OSS Group Limited of Stourport by their own innovative process which allows waste oil to be re-used in a cleaner, cheaper form than virgin oil. 
Lord Hunt was accompanied by two expert civil servants who explained several reasons why we have to continue to pay a higher rate of duty on this product than some other EU countries. At least they gave reasons for their decision not to advise the Treasury to reduce the levy and pointed to alternative ways of approaching the problem.

The second was with Sion Simon MP, Minister in the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills, and his advisers about the delay to the developments on the Sladen School site. 
I pointed out the urgency of this project which will enable Diploma courses to be delivered for 16 – 18 year olds at Sladen rather than separately at each of our senior schools and Kidderminster College. 
He understood the importance of the project but made it clear that the decision about prioritisation did not rest with him but with the Learning and Skills Council. I will of course talk to them and the County Council as soon as I can.
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The Home Office has just produced a most useful document, an information pack for MPs entitled "Anti-social Behaviour Enforcement and Support Tools". 
As I pointed out at the launch of this valuable booklet my only regret is that it was not available when I first became an MP. It contains summaries of the law and action to be taken and penalties that can be imposed for a wide range of anti-social activities from fireworks misuse to fly tipping, alcohol abuse to animal nuisance and vandalism to vehicle offences.
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Last Friday, 31 years after the psychiatric block at the hospital was built it was re-named the Robertson Centre, after Dr Sandy Robertson the retired psychiatrist who was the founder of modern mental health services here. 
Recent extensive refurbishment and re-design of the entrance and reception area make it much more user friendly and Brinton's carpet throughout adds the finishing touch that makes it more like a posh hotel than a hospital building. 
I hope it will help locally to remove the stigma that is still attached to mental illness even though at least one in four of us will be affected and need help in our lifetime. 
The Hospital League of Friends contributed nearly £40,000 to this splendid makeover and I guess Brinton's gave a good deal on the carpet for which we are extremely grateful.

RT

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