Dom meeting with the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
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Locally this month, I have been in contact with Heathrow airport to raise local concerns about noise, air quality and traffic. First, I am seeking to nail down local assurances about the introduction of Independent Parallel Approach (IPA) – a new way for planes to navigate whilst landing – so residents are protected from increased levels of noise, traffic or air pollution.
Next, I responded to the latest consultation on plans for expansion. Heathrow propose creating binding limits for noise, air quality and traffic to manage the local impact of a third runway. This is a welcome step which I have long pushed for, but local residents will want the peace of mind of knowing that their local authority has a clear role in monitoring and enforcing Heathrow’s environmental limits. In my response, which you can read in full on my website here, I argue that local councils (including Elmbridge) should be represented on the enforcement body - so we have proper local accountability.
These common-sense safeguards would provide Elmbridge residents with reassurance and give greater confidence in Heathrow’s ability to expand in a sustainable manner.
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In my first month as Foreign Secretary I have been busy travelling to North America and Asia to deliver the message of a post-Brexit Global Britain - as an ambitious, international, outward-looking and self-confident country.
First, I attended the ASEAN summit in Bangkok, where I met with 20 Foreign Ministers and held detailed discussions on trade opportunities and our shared security interests across Asia-Pacific.
Next, I travelled to the Americas, where I first discussed the UK-Canada relationship with Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland in Toronto. I then visited Washington, where I met with the US President, Vice-President, Secretary of State and National Security Adviser. We discussed free trade, the special relationship and global issues including Hong Kong, arms control and Iran. Finally, I met with Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard in Mexico City, where I signed a Partnership Agreement to boost UK-Mexico trade ties on behalf of the British Government.
You can read more about this vision for a Global Britian in an article I wrote for the Telegraph here.
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We have had some more good economic news this month. The employment rate remains at 76.1% - the joint highest rate since records began in 1971. Over 400,000 new jobs have been created over the last year, and over 3.5 million new jobs have been created since 2010, meaning more people with the security of work. At the same time wages are growing at their fastest rate for a decade, and faster than inflation, making the money in people’s pockets goes further.
This month the Government also announced plans to boost schools with an extra £14 billion of funding, levelling up per pupil funding across the country. The extra money, which includes an extra £700 million for Special Education Needs and Disabilities and £400 million for further education and Sixth Form Colleges, will increase the schools budget to £52.2 billion by 2022/23, an increase of £7.1 billion on this year. That is good news for our schools locally and right across the country.
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