Newspaper Column 19th September 2023 - The Cornish Mining Conference

Last week I wrote about some of my work in Westminster on your behalf as Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Critical Minerals, a group of Members of Parliament who work together from across the political spectrum, as well as with the industry, to highlight the UK's need for a secure, sustainable supply of critical minerals to deliver the nation's industrial strategy.

This mission was brought home locally to me last week, when I had a chance to speak, both as Chair of the APPG and also as the local Member of Parliament, at the 2023 Cornish Mining Conference, which this year was held at Falmouth.

It was a privilege to be asked to speak about what the Government is doing to help bring about this new age of Cornish mining, and the opportunities it will bring for all of us. I spoke about the work the government is doing to ensure our energy security, on how we use our energy at home, how we best utilise our natural capital, our mineral wealth, and how we best harness the talent of the Cornish people and grow our economy here in Cornwall, creating quality career paths for our children and future generations, while also ensuring biodiversity and sustainability for the environment at the same time.

With all of the exciting developments around Cornwall’s resurgent mining industry that I have recently written about, last week’s conference was an exciting time, with the mining industry sending global representatives to Falmouth to hear about everything that is going on in Cornwall.

With the world’s insatiable demand for technology metals such as lithium, copper, tin, tungsten, cobalt as well as minerals to increase food production and provide housing and infrastructure for an ever-growing population, the mining industry really is booming.

Held over several days, the Cornish Mining Conference highlighted the opportunities to responsibly extract the abundance of metals and minerals in the UK, recap on the work undertaken so far and illustrate the potential investment opportunities that lie ahead, with many fascinating presentations from the various attendees that demonstrated the importance of the growth and resurgence of the mining industry in Cornwall to the UK’s economy.

Cornwall is set to benefit for generations to come from new jobs, and economic growth utilising the assets we have right here – our landscape, and the determination of the Cornish people, and along with that, I will continue to do all I can to work with the Government to ensure the mining industry in Cornwall continues to get the recognition, support and resources it needs to be a world leader in these new and exciting technologies.

As always, I am fully focused on the job at hand and if there is ever anything at all I can do to help, then please do not hesitate to contact me. Please get in touch with me by email at Cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk , or by telephone on 01872 229698. My regular constituency advice surgeries are held in a covid-safe environment at my office, so please do get in touch should you wish to meet me about any matters that I can be of assistance with.

Newspaper Column 11th September 2023 - Cornwall's tech economy

Since Parliament returned last week I have been in discussion with colleagues, including our Prime Minister, about the potential Cornwall has to innovate and lead with new technologies, both nationally and internationally.

Leading in this way is not new for Cornwall. In the halcyon days of the 18th and 19th centuries, parts of Cornwall were the silicon valley of its time. Driven by the tremendous wealth and economic investment unlocked by our mining industries, names such as Richard Trevithick, Sir Humphry Davy and Michael Loam were synonymous with technological innovation, born in Cornwall and exported around the world, along with so many sons and daughter of Cornwall to go with it.

Hundreds of years later, as go through the 21st Century, Cornwall again has the potential to be at the cutting edge of our nation’s technological future and energy security. We have the skill development capacity, evolving digital infrastructure, and clear political enthusiasm to lead. Along with my fellow Cornwall MP colleagues, I am making the case for us to be at the front of the queue when investors are considering where to build the data centres, renewable energy infrastructure and refreshing green initiatives that are going to power our future and connect the United Kingdom with the rest of the world.

Already, Cornwall is a national digital interchange with sub sea cables running hundreds of miles to the United States, Nigeria, the Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ireland, France and Germany, something that began with Porthcurno acting as the genesis of worldwide telecommunication with the submarine cables able to transmit messages around the world in place from the 1870’s, and in the same way that our successful mining history drove our past international trading relationships.

As the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Critical Minerals, a group of cross party MPs who work together in this area, I see first hand the opportunities young people in Truro and Falmouth will be able to enjoy over the course of the next few years, and it is vital the Government continues to provide opportunities for local people to come the engineers and wider labour force for these exciting emerging sectors, such as lithium extraction and processing and geothermal energy.

The Prime Minister wrote to me last week and confirmed the support it is giving to tech businesses, including the Digital Growth Grant, Shared Prosperity Fund and Local Digital Skills Partnerships, and I am determined to ensure we get our fair share of this in Cornwall, to allow us to continue to innovate and lead the way in all of the above areas and more.

As always, I am fully focused on the job at hand and if there is ever anything at all I can do to help, then please do not hesitate to contact me. Please get in touch with me by email at Cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk , or by telephone on 01872 229698. My regular constituency advice surgeries are held in a covid-safe environment at my office, so please do get in touch should you wish to meet me about any matters that I can be of assistance with.

 

Newspaper Column 5th September 2023 - New technologies, renewable energies, and achieving net zero

After a busy Summer Recess spent out and about around our constituency, this week I am back in Parliament. One of the things on my mind, as with many of my fellow MPs, is about how we as a nation make it to net zero, the government commitment to ensure the UK reduces its greenhouse gas emissions by 100% from 1990 levels by 2050. If met, this would mean the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by the UK would be equal to or less than the emissions removed by the UK from the environment.

This is an area in which I have done extensive work since my election, as a member of the Environmental Audit Select Committee, a cross party group of MPs whose role is to consider the extent to which the policies and programmes of government departments and non-departmental public bodies contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development, and to audit their performance against sustainable development and environmental protection targets.

There are many organisations telling us how we can make it to net zero.

The things they list the UK and others must do will vary, but they will all be about the update of particular technology. Debates tend to centre on which list is the right one. On the political spectrum, the debate has often been whether we should be doing this at all. What few focus on is how we can really incentivise change.

Green technology or other measure to reduce our energy use is often unaffordable and rather stressful. “You know where you are with a boiler. Heat pumps, not.” “How do they work?” “Do they work?” “Wouldn’t be a good idea to wait until this was a more established and certainly cheaper technology before you made the change?” It is assumed that kick-starting the manufacture of such products by subsiding them will lead to reduced costs, but only real scale will do this affectively. Those business and individuals who have taken the leap are sometimes struggling to adapt. For example many are factoring in hours of turnaround time when someone takes one of their electric fleet to another site, in order to recharge for the return journey. At what point will people feel real confidence about their ability to recharge their electric vehicle, when they need to, and fast?

It is assumed that once you have legally binding targets agreed, or deadlines when certain technology will no longer be on offer, the job is done. This is nonsense.

If we want to stick to the environmental roadmap that has been set out, we need to recognise just what it will take; huge innovation and products and services that the public will absolutely love. Not just because they are good for the environment, but because they make their lives easier, and reduce their costs. Take renewable energy. It is cheaper. However, that is not reflected on your utility bills. But it could be. Where there are potential exiting benefits to the consumer, as your government, we must work faster to make them a reality.

We need to recognise there needs to be better ideas and products to help drive the massive infrastructure investments needed. How can we support the creativity required? The carve out to ensure tidal power could be developed before it became competitive was the right thing to do.

We need to be clearer about the benefits to the UK economy of this work. So many ideas and inventions have the UK as their cradle, but our manufactures never get to make or market the resulting products. Our failure to capitalise as a nation is well known. We must address this, not just for our own economic growth but to ensure we are still the cradle of ideas in the future.

And we have to learn from why previous initiatives failed to take off. One example was the Green Investment Bank used to struggle to get Local Authorities like Cornwall Council to improve its streetlighting or housing stock, even though they could demonstrate the financial return in a short period of time.

In Truro and Falmouth we have some amazing companies who are creating products, service and financing which does really to the job we need it to. From Kensa, who fit heat pumps both right here in Cornwall and across the UK, to Cornish Lithium, who recently received £24million investment to kickstart their work with this vital mineral. We must champion them and the work they are already doing.

The task for politicians like me is not to fight about whether we should be making this transition or listening to the hard pushed, stressed out public who haven’t the resources to deliver it. The task for us it to enable solutions people will want to adopt. Then sell them to the world. Parliament heads back this week following Summer Recess and ensuring that the Government gets this crucial part of our work right is something I will be meeting with the Prime Minister about very early on.

As always, I am fully focused on the job at hand and if there is ever anything at all I can do to help, then please do not hesitate to contact me. Please get in touch with me by email at Cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk , or by telephone on 01872 229698. My regular constituency advice surgeries are held in a covid-safe environment at my office, so please do get in touch should you wish to meet me about any matters that I can be of assistance with

 

Newspaper Column 29th August 2023 - Cornwall's renewable energy potential

One of the highlights, or lowlights of every summer season in Cornwall is the changeable weather, and we have certainly experienced a very varied time over the past couple of months. Some would argue that the start of the school holidays is invariably accompanied by a downturn in the weather, what I like to call ‘Cornish liquid sunshine’, but what the abundance of rain and windy conditions that we see so much of in Cornwall does illustrate, is the opportunity that we have to harness the weather for renewable, greener energy, much of which we are ideally placed to be at the heart of here in Truro and Falmouth.

One such opportunity is for the delivery of floating offshore wind projects in the UK, and the significant opportunity the technology presents to Cornwall - especially given our county’s core strengths in marine technologies, engineering, research, and innovation.

Projects in the Celtic Sea are vital if the Government is to deliver its target to raise the UK’s floating offshore wind target from 1 gigawatt to 5 by 2030. The Crown Estate recently announced that the leasing round for the region will be launched in mid-2023, which could deliver 4 GW of installed UK floating offshore wind capacity by 2035. This could support up to 3,200 jobs, with the potential of £682 million spend in the local supply chain by 2030.

A key part of the strategy is the TwinHub project, which is the first floating offshore wind project in the Celtic sea, based off the Cornish north coast. This offshore wind farm will produce more energy while taking up comparatively less space and, by 2025, will be generating enough electricity to power 45,000 homes.

Falmouth is one of the deepest ports in the world and is ideally positioned to become an integration port where turbines will be put together before being towed out to sea. Falmouth should therefore receive its first share of the £160 million floating offshore wind manufacturing investment scheme to unlock wider private sector investment in the Celtic Sea.

Cornwall has a rich and proud maritime industrial history. I believe the Government can build on that by supporting investment in the port of Falmouth and the development of TwinHub, as well as ensuring high-skilled, well-paid careers for Cornish young people.

As well as the potential of floating wind power, we also have recently seen exciting developments in green technology, with lithium extraction in Cornwall. Lithium is an essential mineral used in the manufacturing of batteries for electric cars.

As the world races ahead to secure critical minerals, the UK must lead the way towards securing responsible critical mineral supply chains. Cornwall is playing a central role in developing this industry, with a long and successful mining history and a rich mineral endowment. It offers investment opportunities to explore and extract many commodities required to manufacture clean energy.

It is brilliant to see local companies embracing new technologies that allow more efficient extraction of critical raw material. Cornish Lithium, based in Penryn, is pioneering the low carbon extraction of lithium from hard rock and from geothermal

waters in Cornwall and only recently secured a multi-million pound investment from multiple sources, including the Government-backed UK Infrastructure Bank.

Both with green energy and revolutionary technologies, I look forward to continuing work with the Government and local organisations to promote and expand the important role Cornwall plays in these vital industries, now and in the future.

As always, I am fully focused on the job at hand and if there is ever anything at all I can do to help, then please do not hesitate to contact me. Please get in touch with me by email at Cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk , or by telephone on 01872 229698. My regular constituency advice surgeries are held in a covid-safe environment at my office, so please do get in touch should you wish to meet me about any matters that I can be of assistance with.

Newspaper Column 22nd August 2023 - Adult Social Care in the Community

As I continue my programme of doorstep conversations throughout Truro and Falmouth this summer, some of the big issues that continue to be regularly raised with me are around adult social care, and health care provision at our hospital at Treliske.

These are both areas which are incredibly important for everyone in Cornwall, and where I have been working very hard to get the positive change that we need.

Firstly, regarding social care issues, this continues to be a real area concern in Cornwall, where we have an ageing population and stretched resources to be able to give people the care continuing care that they often need, particularly when coming out of hospital, which can lead to hospital services being used for longer than they otherwise might be due to the lack of care needed to get people home and continue to look after them there.

The care sector needs more resources, and that is why I was pleased to see the Government recently confirm that it is providing £4,248,271 for Cornwall Council to go towards funding the adult social care sector.

This is part of a further £570 million of ringfenced funding across financial years 2023 to 2024 and 2024 to 2025 to local authorities nationally to improve and increase adult social care provision, with a particular focus on workforce pay.

The Government expects this additional funding to support more workforce and capacity within the adult social care sector.

This will help to ensure that appropriate short-term and intermediate care is available to reduce avoidable admissions and support discharge of patients from hospital when they are medically fit to leave.

I look forward to seeing Cornwall Council draw down this funding and use it to support the adult social care sector and the wellbeing of people who need it in the future.

As well as working to improve the funding for our adult social care sector, since my election I have also championed the need for a Women and Children’s Hospital in Cornwall. The Government has listened and acted, and recently provided an update on its commitment to deliver 40 new hospitals by 2030 which will now be backed by over £20 billion of investment.

One of these projects is the new Women and Children’s Hospital, which will deliver improvements to patient care and be built at the heart of the Royal Cornwall Hospital site in Truro.

As the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Baby Loss, and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Women’s Health, I am particularly appreciative of the benefits this new facility will bring in placing all women and children’s services into one building.

Key features of the new building will include; a consultant-led birthing suite, a midwife-led birthing suite, neonatal intensive care unit with transitional care facilities, dedicated operating theatres, and a paediatric assessment unit.

Work has already started on the site, which should be completed and open by 2028.

Part of what levelling-up means for me is making sure that women and children in our community can access the best quality care for their babies and families right here in Truro. I will continue working with my Cornish MP colleagues to deliver on this and other projects for Cornwall now and in the future.

As always, I am fully focused on the job at hand and if there is ever anything at all I can do to help, then please do not hesitate to contact me. Please get in touch with me by email at Cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk , or by telephone on 01872 229698. My regular constituency advice surgeries are held in a covid-safe environment at my office, so please do get in touch should you wish to meet me about any matters that I can be of assistance with.

Newspaper Column 14th August 2023 - The Return of Cornish Mining

Last week, as well as spending all hours on the doorsteps of various communities around Truro and Falmouth, talking about your priorities and how I can best represent you as your Member of Parliament, it was also great to welcome another Government Minister to Cornwall for a big positive announcement!

Last Tuesday I joined with Penryn-based Cornish Lithium and the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Andrew Griffith MP, to announce the £53.6 million investment into the lithium extraction industry by the UK Infrastructure Bank, the Energy and Minerals Group, and TechMet.

Cornwall’s rich mining history is back on the rise and this investment puts us at the centre of the UK’s energy and tech security!

The funding package announced last Tuesday aims to significantly accelerate progress toward the creation of a domestic supply of lithium, which is crucial to support the scaling up of battery production for electric vehicles as well as the development of battery energy storage solutions. It is part of a larger funding package, with a further £168.0 million potential second stage financing, that is expected to provide the equity foundation necessary for the pioneering mineral exploration and development company to achieve commercial production.

The announcement signals a significant boost for Cornwall, aligning closely with the UK Infrastructure Bank’s mandate to support the UK’s transition to net zero and to boost regional and local economic growth. The funding aims to enable Cornwall’s development as an industrial cluster for lithium extraction and will strengthen the move to Net Zero in line with Cornwall’s local industrial strategy.

Once in commercial production, Cornish Lithium aims to build its 70-strong Cornwall-based workforce to over 300. Through its hard rock mine development alone, it is estimated that Cornish Lithium could generate £800 million of economic activity for the local economy over the planned 20-year mine life. This figure is expected to increase further through the Company's geothermal waters project portfolio.

All brilliant news for this emerging and growing sector in Cornwall and one that I will continue to do all I can to support locally as well as championing in Westminster.

As always, I am fully focused on the job at hand and if there is ever anything at all I can do to help, then please do not hesitate to contact me. Please get in touch with me by email at Cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk, or by telephone on 01872 229698. My regular constituency advice surgeries are held in a covid-safe environment at my office, so please do get in touch should you wish to meet me about any matters that I can be of assistance with.

Newspaper Column 7th August 2023 - Investing in Local Infrastructure

Last week it was great to see Roads Minister Richard Holden MP on his second visit to our constituency this year – this time to see the progress being made on the A30

On Wednesday amid the rotten weather it was great to catch-up with the teams involved in upgrading this stretch of the A30 between Chiverton and Carland Cross along with Cllr Connor Donnithorne, Cornwall Council’s Portfolio Holder for Transport, and receive an update from Costain, the team delivering these vital works

It won’t be long now until this project will be completed and the congestion issues we’ve all experienced every summer will be greatly reduced.

As well as seeing the works being carried out on the A30, it was also good to see him get an update from Cornwall Council on some amazing initiatives going on in Cornwall, such as the successful partnership with Operators and the Council to provide free bus passes for Care Leavers. This is something I attended a meeting with the Minister, officials from Cornwall Council and young people with care experience in February, and it was plain to see then, from the passion with which the young people spoke, how important it was to the young people to get this free transport. Since then it was great to see Cornwall Council continue its scheme for free bus passes for Care Leavers, and I will be lobbying the Government to roll it out nationally.

We also spoke to the Minister about the success of Cornwall’s unique “bus fares pilot” which, combined with the government’s £2 flat fare single journey scheme, has encouraged more residents and visitors to get back on the bus. He heard about “interoperability” which means that in Cornwall, you can use any ticket at any bus!

The Minister could also see how Cornwall invests in active travel initiatives like Cornwall’s e-bike share scheme, Beryl bikes which are available at locations all across Cornwall, including Falmouth, Penryn and Truro.

There is so much being done to invest in and improve our public transport networks in Cornwall, making them more affordable and accessible to all. Part of my role as Member of Parliament for Truro and Falmouth is to ensure key decision makers at the top of the Government, such as the Roads Minister are able to see the unique challenges that we face in Cornwall, as well as how we are dealing with them for themselves, so they can be better informed to support us in the future, as well as take away ideas of best practice, where we are already leading the way, such as the free bus pass for care leavers, so they can be shared elsewhere. My work in this area for you continues…

As always, I am fully focused on the job at hand and if there is ever anything at all I can do to help, then please do not hesitate to contact me. Please get in touch with me by email at Cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk , or by telephone on 01872 229698. My regular constituency advice surgeries are held in a covid-safe environment at my office, so please do get in touch should you wish to meet me about any matters that I can be of assistance with.