The NATO Parliamentary Assembly Committees on Democracy and Security and the Political Committee of which I am a member, held a Joint visit to Athens and Chania, Crete. the visit took place from Sunday 13 October to 16 October 2024. We visited Athens and at meetings in the Hellenic Parliament we heard from the Ministers of Defence, Migration and Foreign Affaires on security and political developments on the Southern flank and on the evolving migration and refugee challenges.


Our group then travelled to Chania, Crete.Our first meting was at the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Centre (NMIOTC).  We heard a robust speech from Dora Bakoyannis MP Chair of the Standing Committee on National Defence and Foreign Affiars. ( pictured right). At the Souda Naval Base we had  an overview of NATO's  Integrated Air and Missile Defence Centre of Excellence and the Operational Training Centre. The final stop was a walking tour of the facilities at the US Naval Base in Souda Bay. 

The  final day we met at the Orthodox Academy of Crete where we heard from the president of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping who said that Article 87 UN Conflict of the Seas guarantees security and safety. However there is not the right level of governance at sea and it depends on the flag state , the ship wo carries the flag of state but not all ships do. the rule of law is difficult to establish at sea. Greece has a large shipping fleet, 5,500 ships. three quarters of EU trade is transported by sea. The International Maritime organisation IMO is the body that overseas shipping activities at sea. The Hellenic Coast Guard Regional command gave us an overview of the challenges they face with migrants.  Below are the graphs which show a breakdown of statistics complied by the Coastguards. 

It was good to visit the Greenacres Community Gardens on Friday 11 October 2024. I met Paul Mason who runs the Centre and is the driving force. 

The project started in 2012 and was initially funded by Social care and Inclusion. This allowed Paul to refurbish the Centre and gardens. The funding was withdrawn in 2018 from the National Lottery fund. 

85% of people that work on the project live within 10 minutes of the site. The project has previously worked with the pupil referral unit, Adult social care and Mindkind, strengthening families.

There are at present 40 plots being rented out to individuals and groups.

There are currently 12 people with Learning Disabilities attending the site every day, which helps support with access to outdoors, learning new horticultural skills, building confidence, and combatting the social isolation that many disabled people face today. 22 Adults with Learning difficulties attend on a weekly basis. Paul has organised for a skills certificate and those who take part have learnt gardening skills. 

The project also operates a garden maintenance service. The running costs are £60K a year.

Greenacres will be introducing a fishing scheme and are continually exploring and working with other organisations. I will do all I can to support this amazing organisation and even bought some Kale grown on site. 

I was delighted to visit the Taylor Wimpey site Wyrley View,  Goscote Lane,  Walsall in my constituency which has just been completed on Friday 11 October 2024.   The team have worked hard and managed to complete these homes in 3 years.  I was met by Mark Nickols the Managing Director at Taylor Wimpey Midlands.  Mark explained that there were 197 homes bought privately and 63 affordable which means there are 33% of homes were affordable. 



  I looked into one of the unfinished homes. The Site also had a rainwater sump or reservoir  which captures the rainwater , filters it and sends it into the Canal. All the experts on the Site were local and there is an apprentice scheme which enables young people to learn skills. It is great to see how the team have built not only homes but a community.  

On Thursday 10 October 2024 I chaired the Westminster Hall debate on Gaza and Humanitarian Aid. The debate was introduced by Ayoub Khan MP, ( Birmingham Perry Barr)

The motion was 'That this House has considered humanitarian aid and Gaza'. 

Over 20 members were able to take part in the debate and the Minister at FCDO Hamish Falconer MP responded.

I attended a pop-up charity shop in aid of Hospice Care Week on 10 October. This was organised by Hospice UK, the national charity for hospice and end of life care, supporting over 200 hospices to ensure dignity for all who need hospice care.I signed the letter (below) to add my support to this pertinent issue. Our constituency is home to two wonderful hospices: Acorns Children's Hospice and Walsall Palliative Care Centre, and staff and patients alike need to be confident that all is being done to support them. They need long term committed funding.