Parliament. antony jackson

to suggest some of the general areas we need to concentrate on.

       First. We need to come up with a physical plan for a typical development. We need to describe the amount of land needed, and to define the type and where it may come from. We can’t, for example, expect to take land that already has an important function, nor can we expect to take land, development of which will effect the ordinary enjoyment of his or her home by the landowner. As part of this we need to come up with some suggestions for scale. Is it, for example, sensible to have scattered single-dwelling development, or should all development be multiple. This will very much relate to the cost-effectiveness issue.

       Secondly. We need to come up with costed designs, appropriate for different landscapes with different resources. To do this we need to prepare a briefing that will accurately describe the limitations applied, whether this be an overall price per dwelling or the types of material allowed. We also need to define in some measurable way the required efficiency of each home.

       Thirdly. We need to get out there and talk to the local communities and to the landowners to try and measure their reactions, both positive and negative. We need to be able to show how things can work in practise, and give some examples.

       We also have to give some thought to the construction of the new controlling body that will be needed if P. One is passed, and how this can be done without increasing the size of the State, which is, at the moment, embargoed.

       Suggestions?’

      In the room were around thirty MPs, both new and ‘old’, but the only ‘activists’ were the Estate Group. It was quickly agreed that all of those present would be ready and willing to assist in whatever way they could in response to Joan Brampton and her newly aligned ‘Estate Group’. It seemed a very sensible way forward that the work be shared out among this already close-knit group led by the parliament-savvy Henry Halliday and reporting to Joan. General meetings would be called from time to time to review progress. All press matters would be referred to Joan, who would speak for the project.

      It was only left for the ‘Estate Group’ to share out their workload and it was decided to leave this until the following Tuesday, when they came back from what was going to be a long weekend in their constituencies. All were expected to report on their parliamentary week and look at any matters raised by constituents on a regular basis and, although much could be dealt with electronically from their cubby-holes in Westminster there was still a lot of organisation to get to grips with so early in their terms of office.

       ‘How are you getting back, John’ Asked Imogen.

       ‘I was hoping to get on the train this evening from Liverpool Street. And you?’

       ‘I’ll join you if you like, and then you can give me a lift to Bungay in that ratty old Citroen that I suppose you’ve still got.’

       ‘Happy days, but I’m now onto Peugot, give me a few more years and it’ll probably be a Volvo, but I’m too young yet. I’ll drop by your flat around six then, and we’ll head off together.’

       ‘Are you off to Argyll, Henry?’

       ‘Yep. Caledonian sleeper, leaving at midnight, and then three hours more to Oban, I’ll spend tomorrow in the constituency office and then get home to Ulva sometime on Saturday. It’s a long trip.’

      The ‘Estate Group’ said goodbye to one another and to Westminster and all went their separate ways after what had been, for all of them, a memorable week. Joan Brampton stayed over that night but would head back to Malton, via her York office, the next morning.

      She was feeling really energised by the project and really looking forward to working with her new colleagues. What a great institution this Modern Parliament was, with such a good spirit of co-operation and complete lack of the party-politics of old.