Alison Bennett's Monday Mail: How's your signal

How’s your signal?

Do you have good mobile phone signal, or is it lacking? 

During my Summer Tour, a number of parish councils and residents raised their concerns about poor to non-existent mobile coverage, and the impact that it has on day to day life. 

At the start of January there will be a debate in Parliament on Mobile Connectivity in Rural Areas, and so I am gathering together your experiences from across Mid Sussex. If you can spare five minutes, please complete this short online survey. 

Thank you.

An historic vote for a UK-EU Customs Union

Last week in Parliament, I was proud to support the Liberal Democrat Ten Minute Rule Bill calling on the Government to begin negotiations for a new customs union with the EU. This is a symbolic but important step in recognising how Brexit has held back our economy. The Bill passed its first hurdle in the Commons, after a rare 100-100 tie, the Deputy Speaker used her casting vote in favour of the Bill which will now return in the New Year for its Second Reading. 

Brexit is costing the UK £90 billion a year in lost tax receipts, but away from the big picture, it is having real consequences for businesses based here in Mid Sussex. A couple of weeks ago I visited CAE in Burgess Hill. You may have seen CAE’s flight simulators from Jane Murray Way as you drive round the edge of town. CAE train pilots in defence, commercial and business aviation. CEA told me that because of Brexit red tape, they cannot bring as many overseas examiners to Burgess Hill as they have demand for, and so instead of expanding here, the company has instead invested in Vienna. This has a knock on consequence for our local economy, not only in terms of jobs not created, but as a business booking 5,000 hotel nights a year in the area, the missed opportunity to further support our hospitality sector. 

On Thursday I put this to a minister in the Department for Trade and Business. His response was a disappointment, ignoring the substance of my question. Rebuilding closer trading relationships with our nearest neighbours is about restoring confidence, unlocking growth and ensuring Mid Sussex remains a place where businesses want to invest and create jobs.

Now read this:

"We're Not Squeamish": Westminster Is Slowly Waking Up To The Birth Rate Crisis

Falling birth rates are not just an issue in London, Brighton & Hove has the third lowest birth rate in England, and in recent years Mid Sussex schools have not always had full reception intakes. Last week I was very disappointed that the proposed Haywards Heath primary at Hurst Farm is now marked as ‘minded to cancel’ by the Department for Education. This is another example of the infrastructure that is promised with new housing not happening. It breaches the social contract that the housing sector makes with communities when new housing is proposed. This in turn undermines trust in developers and governments. Of course I understand that if there are not enough children to justify building new schools money needs to be spent wisely, but any government with a programme of mass house building has to keep its promises and take the public with them. Otherwise we are just looking at more traffic on the roads and a water supply that cannot cope.  

Signing off for 2025

This is the last Monday Mail of the year but I will of course be back in January. Thank you for reading, and for your comments each week. I am very grateful to you for your interest in what I am up to. Of course, I couldn’t get the Monday Mail out each week without the help of a small team of ever helpful volunteers who make time each Sunday evening to set up the email so that it lands in your inbox at 8am on a Monday morning - thank you. 

Wishing you and your loved ones a very happy and peaceful Christmas. 

Getting in touch

My parliamentary email address is: alison.bennett.mp@parliament.uk. If you need my help, please get in touch.

Best wishes,
Alison

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