18/06/12 - The Way I See It: Chris Kelly MP writes for the Dudley Chronicle

I am delighted that Staffordshire County Council have rejected the F G Davis quarry application for Wall Heath. Like the recent Wordsley mast decision, this was a major victory for the local community and an outstanding achievement showing what we can accomplish when we work together for the common good. A massive new quarry would have been a disaster for the local environment and a nightmare for residents and I am pleased that permission has been refused.

I enjoyed the Wordsley Festival at King George V Park. It was a real shame about the weather but I pay tribute, once again, to the organising committee for all their hard work. Thanks also to all the exhibitors – including many local organisations and charities – who took part, taking stalls, and to Brierley Hill and Kingswinford Air Cadets for their leading roles.

I enjoyed visiting the Kingswinford School and meeting pupils. The school recently became an academy and is a very popular local school amongst parents. I always enjoy my visits to schools and it was a pleasure to visit such an excellent academy school in our community with so much to offer its pupils.

I have visited a number of local businesses in the past couple of weeks. On Dawley Brook Road Trading Estate, Kingswinford I was pleased to visit Evans and White Manufacturing Limited, computer numerical control (CNC) machining specialists. David Millward, his staff members and I discussed the skills shortage and the company’s exciting plans for expansion, once again demonstrating the vibrancy and longevity of Black Country manufacturing and engineering. The economy is still not as strong as we would all like but local firms like Evans & White who focus relentlessly on quality and customer service can still compete with the best in the rest of the world.

Local businessman Paul Coxhead invited me to visit his company, Targeted Training Projects Limited, in Kingswinford and meet apprentices at the Logistics Apprentice Training Academy which is providing real training for real jobs for local young people. I was struck by the positive outlook and attitude amongst the group of apprentices I met.

I was pleased to present the apprenticeship of the year award at the Motor Transport Awards to Eddie Stobart and System Training who invest huge sums in training the next generation of drivers and employees. As Stobarts know, apprenticeships are an excellent investment for long-term success – and I am keen for as many Black Country firms as possible to discover the benefits.

In a Westminster Hall debate on bilateral trade with Israel I highlighted the partnership between Eurocraft Enclosures Limited in Netherton and Israel high-tech firm ECI Telecom. The Foreign Office minister replying to the debate agreed that this is the kind of relationship, creating additional jobs in the UK, that we wish to encourage and develop.

The Home Secretary, has made an important announcement in the House of Commons regarding family route migration which I strongly welcome.

This Government welcomes those who wish to make a life in the UK with their family, work hard and make a contribution but a family life must not be established here at the taxpayer’s expense.

To play a full part in British life, family migrants must be able to integrate – that means they must speak our language and pay their way. This is fair to applicants, but also fair to the public.

So the Home Secretary has announced a major overhaul of family migration which will ensure only migrants who can pay their way are allowed to come to the UK. From next month, only those earning at least £18,600 will be able to bring in a spouse or partner from outside Europe.

British citizens can enter into a relationship with whomever they choose but if they want to establish their family life here, they must do so in a way which works in the best interests of our society.

> Chris Kelly can be contacted on 01384 211 041 or via officeATchriskellympDOTcom. You can also read the latest news and views at chriskellymp.com.