SIR,
I refer to Hamish Sandison's letter reproduced in last week's Beacon.
I was disappointed Mr Sandison has chosen to try to turn the issue of the possible closure of the Forensic Service Laboratory in Chepstow into a party political issue.
This is a very serious development which could lead to the loss of hundreds of jobs not only here in Monmouth but all over the country. To try to use people faced with possible redundancy and an uncertain future for political gain is in my opinion small minded and unhelpful.
I am a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee and, for the record, I set out the sequence of events which led to the inquiry.
I had a meeting at Westminster with the Chief Executive of the FSS and as a result formally requested a one off inquiry.
I put forward a strong case why the Home Affairs Select Committee should look into this issue. This was agreed and in the absence of Keith Vaz MP Labour chairman of the committee I chaired the meeting which took place on July 7th 2009.
If Mr Sandison ever becomes an MP he will quickly learn that members of all political persuasions often work together in the interest of their constituents.
We all work closely together when there is a common threat, and have no problem ignoring political differences when constituent's livelihoods are in danger. Mr Sandison refers to the Debate instigated by Labour MP Lindsay Hoyle in which I and Jessica Morden Labour MP for neighbouring constituency Newport East spoke.
If he had been present at the debate he would have witnessed the scathing criticism which Lindsay Hoyle and other back bench Labour MP's heaped on the Labour Government.
I do not wish to be overly political about this as I am committed to working closely with Lindsay Hoyle and Jessica Morden, all three of us are more interested in saving jobs than making petty political points.
David Davies
(MP for Monmouth)