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Howard's Way.... a weekly column from the Rt. Hon. Michael Howard QC. MP. 

19 June 2008

Last Friday began with a meeting with local representatives of the Federation of Small Businesses. This was to discuss the impact on small firms of the business activities of Kent County Council and some of its offshoots.

Many small firms complain that they face unfair competition from the Council and some say the Council shouldn’t be engaged in business activity at all.

I raised the issue during one of my regular meetings with Paul Carter, the Leader of Kent County Council. The Council’s view is that it is entitled to engage in these activities under recent Government legislation, that the extra competition helps keep down prices for consumers in Kent and that the resulting profits help keep council taxes down.

I think the key to ensuring that competition is fair is to achieve transparency so as to make it clear that there is no hidden subsidy of these activities. At our meeting Paul Carter agreed, in principle, to provide this. I hope that this agreement can be put into effect in the near future.

This meeting was followed by one of my regular meetings with the Leader and Chief Executive of Shepway District Council which was also attended by Damian Collins, the Prospective Conservative Candidate for the constituency at the next General Election when I step down.

Then it was time for a visit to the Triennial which I had been greatly looking forward to. I was not disappointed. There is no space to describe all the exhibits which impressed me but one stands out. The experience of sitting on a bench on The Leas, looking across to France and listening to readings from the letters of local soldiers about to go into battle, was deeply moving. I hope it becomes a permanent feature. All in all the Triennial is very impressive. Congratulations to Roger de Haan and his team.

Next stop was Silver Springs where I made presentations to seven employees who had worked there for 25 years.

And, finally, a huge thank you to the local Conservative Association which gave me such a wonderful evening in the Channel Suite of the Leas Cliff Hall to celebrate my 25th Anniversary as your Member of Parliament. I only hope the noise didn’t disturb the enjoyment of those who were listening to the Pink Floyd tribute concert next door!