Neil Carmichael - MP for Stroud

My Diary

I am often asked what I do as a Member of Parliament to support my Constituents needs and concerns on both a local footing and in Westminster. In this section of my website I aim to address such questions by each week posting an update of many of the things I have done as the MP for Stroud in the previous seven days.

Week Beginning: Monday 13th February

 After the past few very hectic weeks this one was a slightly quieter one with a recess from Parliament for the week which meant I was able to spend slightly more time in the constituency something which I always enjoy.

 On Tuesday morning I attended a session on PFI (private funding initiative). PFI involves PPP (Public Private Partnerships) as a method of using private funding to invest in public which allows improvements on public service infrastructures when the state may not have the capital to do so. I have had previous dealings of PFI during my time working in Poland, I fully support the initiatives as long as they are carried out effectively and not complicated by bureaucracy. It also ties in with my previous project with Edward Wild entitled "Who governs the governors" which examines the way in which the governance of schools can be improved which is especially relevant to the development of free schools and academies.

Most of Thursday I spent in meetings with constituents and then in the afternoon I visited EMR Sharpness where they have had issues with noise and I am helping to deal with this issue for the workers.  

Week Beginning: Monday 6th February

 This week was National Apprenticeship Week and therefore was the focus of my week. I began my week meeting with Nampak and other companies in connection with the Festival of Engineering and Manufacturing to carry on developing the week of events. Tuesday I had an early morning at the Royal Academy of Engineering Apprenticeships and the afternoon saw me attend the first National Apprenticeship week Reception to mark this important initiative. Encouraging our young people to take up apprenticeships is important as often this form of further education and training often fall by the wayside when young people are making decisions about their futures. The Festival of Engineering and Manufacturing aims to encourage young people into careers in engineering and manufacturing and indeed apprenticeships by allowing pupils to experience firsthand engineering principles. On Wednesday evening the Houses of Commons hosted the National Apprenticeship Parliamentary Reception this was an opportunity to exchange thoughts and ideas with many of my Parliamentary colleagues.

Thursday evening saw me return closer to the Constituency to attend the National Apprenticeship Scheme event hosted at Gloucester Rugby Club which gave me a chance to discuss implementing a national scheme with industry leaders.

 

 Week Beginning: Monday 23rd January

There was nothing unusual in this week being a busy one, on Monday evening I attended the annual reception of the All Party Parliamentary Group on China and on Wednesday morning had breakfast with the Conservative China Group. I have spoken previously of the importance of China in relaying the work I conduct in any given week and my position if anything is more resolute now than it was previously. By typical measures China became the second largest economy in the world in the last few weeks of 2011 and for them an economic slowdown means growth of perhaps 8% though they are not without their own significant economic burderns like most nations in the west.

On Wednesday evening the All Party Parliamentary Group on Atrial Fibrillation, a medical condition noted for causing an abnormally fast and irregular heart beat, met and was addressed by a guest speaker who happened to be one of my constituents. It is one of a long number of diseases and afflictions that we must get on top of to improve people's life chances and qualities of living - this week's reports on the dramatic fall in the number of people who have died as a consequence of a heart attack ought to give us solace and hope for what is achievable.

 

Week Beginning: Monday 16th January

Normal service resumed this week as the House of Commons has returned to a full schedule, Monday was what is known as an 'opposition day' where the opposition to the government has full control of the schedule for a day to introduce legislation or put forward debates. One vote they put forward was to reverse the government's reforms of voter registration which they say jeopardises the notion of universal franchise as it requires indivuals to update the electoral register themselves. As it currently stands the electoral register is updated on a household basis rather than an individual basis, therefore many people, perhaps millions of people, will not be aware of the current arrangements thus leaving it to other people whereas by putting the responsiblity on adults individually they will be aware they will have to make a decision about their voting registration themselves, and for the first time there will be no compulsion but a free choice to do so or not. Therefore I voted against the opposition's measure which failed to be carried by 87 votes.

I also had a busy schedule in the constituency this week, on Friday morning I met with the leaders of Stroud District Council to liaise with them on local and national matters before attending a lunch of the Gloucester Harbour Trustees later in the day. The following Day I and councillors from Stroud District Council visited Stratford Park Leisure Centre, and was delighted to see the £750,000 worth of investment that has taken place there in the last 12 weeks. http://www.neilcarmichael.co.uk/blog/2012/01/stratford-park-unveils-refurbished-facilities/

Week Beginning: Monday 9th January

As Monday was the final day of the winter recess I spent as much time as I could in the constituency and at the office in Stroud. Amongst spending time in meetings at the office and reading over correspondence I receive on a daily basis from constituents I went to Gloucester to meet with Gloucestershire Care Services who operate all national health service hospital operations in the county. Earlier in the day I attended a lunch hosted by the Rotary in Stroud where I has happy to give a speech to those who attended about localism and how our lives could be much improved as a consequence.

Once the House of Commons was back in session the following day I had summary meetings with various MPs and groups to discuss briefly what has occured since Parliament went into recess and what we will be seeking to accomplish in 2012, this including a meeting of the Environmental Audit Committee and the 1922 Committee. There were also four divisions that day regarding provisions of the Local Government Finance Bill, all four of them I supported.

Week Beginning: Monday 2nd January, and the Christmas Holidays

Leading up to the end of the year, the House of Commons was in session for the first two days of Christmas Week before going into recess until Tuesday, 10th January. On Monday 19th December I participated in a House of Commons debate about apprenticeships, I wanted to let it be known and go into the record what a fantastic job that is being done at Stroud College and that we continue to support them. The following day I participated in a general debate in the chamber where MPs can raise any subject of their choosing, I took the opportunity to highlight the holding of the Festival of Manufacturing and Engineering that will be taking place in this constituency in April and of the need and importance to invest in that sector in the economy, locally and nationally.

With that the Houses of Parliament were closed for business until January and I returned to Stroud to be with my family and friends for Christmas and for the ringing in of the New Year (http://www.neilcarmichael.co.uk/blog/2011/12/happy-christmas-from-neil-carmichael/).

I returned to work with the full year ahead of me on 3rd January, the following day a visited a fantastic community-run scheme in Chalford (http://www.neilcarmichael.co.uk/blog/2012/01/neil-carmichael-visits-frifthwood-cafe/) where the local community takes over the local youth centre to run a cafe and hold events, where I myself hosted a constituency surgery. Later in the week I was able to attend another great event, as a small local company based in Stonehouse won an award that eludes the vast majority of their peers, a great example of local excellence. http://www.neilcarmichael.co.uk/blog/2012/01/neil-presents-elite-award-to-local-it-company/

 

Week Beginning: Monday, 12th December

In the last full week before the Christmas recess I was busier than ever at the House of Commons, on top of having meetings with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for Education and the European Commissioner for the Environment I had an additional select committee hearing. Due to reports in the media in the previous week, the Education Committee decided upon holding an impromptu arranged hearing regarding the regulation in theory and in practice of the examination boards for further education, to give testimony witnesses from AQA, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC were present to give insight into the situation.

On Tuesday a debate was held in the House of Commons in response to the Prime Minister's actions and positions in Brussels that were made the previous week regarding a potential amendment to the Treaty of the European Union. The key point I wanted to make is that as no treaty is being proposed that the United Kingdom will be party to, there is no immediate and pressing need at this time to hold a referendum on the European Union imminently. Whilst it is greatly appreciated that the Prime Minister will not succumb to pressure on Britain's interests, the fact remains that the Eurozone is in very significant danger, a collapse in which would do us no favours whatsoever, as such it is vital that whilst we defend on our interests we do what we can to ensure that troubles overseas do not have a knock-on, dehabilitating impact on us as well.

 

Week Beginning: Monday, 5th December

This week was a particularly busy one as the House of Commons attempts to get in all the work and efforts it wants to before closing down until Christmas. As is normal I had two select committee sessions on Wednesday either side of Prime Minister's Questions, the Education Committee in the morning and the Environmental Audit Committee in the afternoon.

On Thursday morning I was on the order paper to put a question to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. I asked what is the department's assessment of current performance of the manfucturing sector of the economy and I received an example of its robustness in response, that car exports have doubled since the early spring of 2009. I also asked of the Department of Energy and Climate Change on Thursday regarding the efficiency of the national grid in delivering electricity across the network, and of all electricity that is distributed, slightly more than 6% is lost prior to arrival.

On returning to the constituency on Thursday evening I attended an event at the Imperial Hotel in Stroud dedicated to discussing the matter of Fuel Poverty in the United Kingdom, it was hosted by local group 'Wood U Waste' on behalf of the National Warm Homes Campaign, whose keynote speaker Dr Brenda Boardman MBE is deemed to be one of the foremost authorities on the subject.

 

Week Beginning: Monday, 28th November

As November gave way to December the end of 2011 is now in sight and with it the current parliamentary session. On Wednesday afternoon I met with Lord Sassoon and Alistair Burt MP, members of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office ministerial team to receive a briefing on the most recent sanctions placed by HM Treasury on the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of their nuclear enrichment efforts. Events however had passed such sanctions by as the storming of the British Embassy in Tehran by students took place the day before, also on Wednesday, I got to put a question to the Foreign Secretary on the matter asking him how we had enhanced our contact with neighbouring and regional states in the hours following the attack on our embassy, his response was that the UK had had intensive discussions with Turkey and the small states in the Arabian Gulf.

I left Westminster for the week earlier than usual as Baroness Warsi, the Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party and member of the cabinet was coming to the constituency during the afternoon on Thursday. I accompanied her and district councillor Alex Stennett on a tour of the premises of Lister Shearing in Dursley, since its formation 150 years ago the company has been a success story and even through this transitional time for the economy it continues to expand robustly, planning a new factory and taking on 24 additional staff in the last twelve months.

 

Week Beginning: Monday, 21st November

Closer now to the Christmas recess than the Autumn conference season it was another busy week at the House of Commons. On Monday evening I hosted an All Party Parliament Group on School Governance meeting at Portcullis House on the Parliament Estate, the APPG I helped to found in the Spring following the publishing of the report I co-authored with Edward Wild "Who Governs the Governors? School Governance in the Twenty First Century". The following day, amongst many other meetings, I met with Royal Mail to discuss the post offices in Amberley and Hardwicke, following which I had a meeting regarding the Green Investment Bank.

Back in the constituency at the weekend I held a rare surgery session on a Saturday, at my London Road office in Stroud but not before visiting Nailsworth Farmer's Market in the morning and not after making a regular visit to All Pulling Together Central, the community centre in Stonehouse.

 

 

Week Beginning: Monday, 14th November

I met this week with Charles Hendry, the Minister of State at the Department of Energy and Climate Change who earlier in the year visited a host of sites in Stroud in support of renewable energy. There were many issues to discuss with regards to many varying forms of energy and related provisions to supply it, especially so as I am a member of the Environmental Audit Committee.

Relating to such issues, a debate took place in the House of Commons chamber on Tuesday about the cost of petrol and diesel, a debate in which I took part. The debate was called due to the dehibilitating costs of driving, as a litre of unleaded petrol in and around Stroud is cost £1.30 and diesel £1.40 - there is strong evidence to suggest that the severely high petrol and diesel costs are stifling economic productivity and peoples lifestyles as they drive less. As the economy is in a difficult place in the UK which is very unfortunate , the Chancellor will be making his Autumn Statement to Parliament when he may decide to initiate measures to relieve such pressures.

 

Week Beginning: Monday, 7th November

On Monday I visited the Chinese Embassy in London, based at Portland Place in Marylebone to attend an event hosted by Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom. It is abundantly clear to see that China is a growing power economically and politically, therefore it is important that we create as deep and sincere a relationship with them as it will be to the benefit of us all.

At the weekend it was Remembrance Sunday, the British Forces continue their valiant efforts in theatres across the world, including for little over six months this year in Libya on top of their continued presence in Afghanistan. It was particularly poignant as forces based in Gloucestershire have been serving in Helmand Province this year, and very sadly has seen some of their soldiers die in service, including an individual from Dursley not to long ago. I attended a service in Dursley, as well as two others in Stonehouse and Stoud to pay my respects and to offer my support.

 

Week Beginning: Monday, 31st October

It was an important few days on my select committees this week, on Tuesday morning the Education Select Committee met to discuss who ought to be the preferential candidate to be appointed as the Chief Inspector of Ofsted, the regulator of schools and child services providers in England and Wales. We are delighted to endorse the preferred candidate of the Department for Education, Sir Michael Wilshaw. With regards to my responsibilities on the Environmental Audit Committee, we are calling for evidence on certain aspects of the Feed-in-Tarriff Scheme, the subsidy of small scale renewable energy that promotes its use and uptake, with hearings tentatively scheduled for 23rd November.

Back in the constituency at the weekend I had a formal meeting with David Hagg, the Chief Executive of Stroud District Council on Friday Morning to discuss recent developments and liaise on joint efforts on behalf of the local area. Later in the day I visited Stroud College to see the Academy of Urbanism, an organisation that shortlisted Stroud in their best town awards in 2010, to discuss what we can do to make Stroud and the surroundings towns and villages and greater place for its residents to live.

 

Week Beginning: Monday, 24th October

This week was notable for the reason that a referendum on the European Union was debated in the House of Commons and was voted on. It is my view that a referendum is to be required when changes to the European Union Treaty are proposed as the public need to be consulted, which is why I supported the European Union Act 2011 on its progression through Parliament to the statute book, a piece of legislation that requires a referendum by law if such an alteration to the relationship between the UK and the EU is considered.

However, I did not support the motion because now is a very bad time for Britain and for Europe, for us to consider such a measure. The economy is in a fragile state and on the continent it is in a far worse condition as the Eurozone is on its knees and financial markets are paralysed with fear. If the United Kingdom as the defacto financial hub of the EU and the biggest trading partner of the Eurozone - £200 billion of goods and services travels in both directions - was to consider its position, the impact could prove  to be devastatingly destablising at a time when economic growth and falling unemployment is paramount. However I am committed to the the reform of the European Union and our relationship with it and I will do everything in my power to urge the Government to act in accordance with such interests.

 

Week Beginning: Monday, 17th October

The second week of Parliament being back in session after the conference season and it was as if it never happened at all. On Monday I went to lunch at the Royal Institute of International Affairs at the beautiful St. James's Square in Mayfair, more commonly known as Chatham House with Wolfgang Schauble, a leading member of the Christian Democratic Union in Germany, and the Minister of Finance in the Government led by Angela Merkel. Given the course of intentional events, Mr Schauble is one of the most important and influential individuals in the world right now as Eurozone states scramble to save their common currency and prevent wider economic damage afflicting themselves and others as well.

Closer to home, I attended a celebration of ten years of the University of Gloucestershire on Saturday at their campus in Cheltenham. It is very important for education, for research and for employment that we have a university in this county, and a university that is crafting a reputation for itself and is rising up the national league tables.

 

Week Beginning: Monday, 10th October

The Houses of Parliament came back to session on Monday and will now be sitting continuously until Christmas. On Thursday I returned to the constituency earlier than I normally would so I could attend an event in Dursley that morning. The 'write it down' campaign has been devised and launched by Julie and Brian Hennell, to assist in the treatment and care of dementia sufferers which is a very noble cause and deserves all of the attention that it gets.

The Education Committee on which I sit made an announcement about an important inquiry they will be holding in the very near future, it will be examining both the strengths and weaknesses of the child protection system in the United Kingdom in protecting the welfare of children.

Week Beginning: Monday, 3rd October

The conference season is now over and Parliament will next week return to session for the rest of the year.

On Wednesday afternoon I was invited to sit on the panel of a Westminster Council event as I sit on the Education Committee. It was focused upon the council's policy to intervene in children's lives earlier for the benefit of their education and wellbeing when worries emerge.

I spent a large part of my day on Friday working behind the scenes on my recently announced Festival of Engineering. Whilst it was unveiled only this week, it has been in the planning for many months already and such efforts will continue until next April. A working party was held in the monring where it was discussed how to bring together the efforts of my staff, local councillors, schools, employers large and small and representatives of Her Majesty's Government in order to stage this festival, it is certainly no small undertaking.

Also on Friday I had an informal meeting with the Stround branch of the Citizens Advice Bureau who have some new staff. We work closely with the CAB due to many of the unforeseen issues that arise for constituents that I assist in resolving where I can.

 

Week Beginning: Monday, 26th September

I had a busy week in and around the Constituency in the week proceeding the Conservative Party Conference beginning over the weekend. On Tuesday I went to Chalford Hill School to mark 'World School Milk Day' which took place at thousands of schools in more than forty countries. http://www.neilcarmichael.co.uk/blog/2011/10/neil-marks-world-school-milk-day/

Following this I went to Wycliffe School in Stonehouse to talk with students about politics and?about the job I do as the Member of Parliament for Stroud. I feel it is very important that we teach people, young and old, about the workings of democracy and governance in this country as the system works best when people are informed about it.

On Monday I was given a tour of the Valley Community Hospital in Dursley by NHS Gloucestershire. It is not yet functioning as it is still under construction, and is being built to replace Berkeley Hospital. After all that has been said, after the barrage of criticisms and scaremongering by opposition politicians and the media about the handling of the NHS by the Coalition Government, this is an example that refutes such criticism completely - investment into healthcare in England is rising, and will rise, every year of this Parliament.

 

Week Beginning: Monday, 19th September

As the conference season has begun and I am now on recess I am able to to devote more time to dealing with local matters and getting around the Constituency. Directly prior to hosting my weekly surgery - on this occasion in Dursley - I was able to meet with many of the local church leaders in order to discuss issues of concern for them and to liaise on all future developments.

Earlier in the day I was given a tour of Stroud Valley Primary School close to my London Road office by the Chair of Governors to whom I am very greatful, I am sure they are very busy due to the new school year just beginning so I appreciate their time.

On Sunday the locally based Meningitis Trust held their annual Five Valleys Walk which is the centrepiece of their fundraising efforts. I and my whole family joined 1,000 other people on the all-day trek on the 21 mile journey navigating many of the hills and the valleys in the area.

 

Week Beginning: Monday, 12th September

The second of two weeks back at Parliament prior to the beginning of the party conference season was a very busy one. On Monday I was delighted to host a reception at the House of Commons to launch the 'Stroud Special', a collaboration between the local community and First Great Western to utilise commuter trains in off-peak hours to ferry tourists from London to the Constituency and back again. Many members of Stroud District Council were present, representatives of First Great Western, members of the local community in the Stroud area and Max Comfort of Stroud Common Wealth who devise the idea in the first place. The Minister of State for Railways, Theresa Viliers, also attended and gave her strong approval and backing for the project.

On Wednesday I had a second of three meetings with a member of the government this week with constituents and local stakeholders. I and a group of individuals from the Arlingham area met with Richard Benyon, a Minister at the Department for the Environment, Fisheries and Rural Affairs to discuss the Environment Agency's plans and positions regarding defence from flooding. I am very greatful to the Minister and the Department for meeting with us and clarifying their position.

On Thursday I returned to the Constituency earlier in the week than I usally do so I could host a meeting at the Imperial Hotel in Stroud, bringing together a wide range of individuals involved in upgrading our broadband network with Jeremy Hunt, the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport who has oversight of the Government's aim to roll out superfast broadband across the country and deliver the best such infrastructure in Europe by the end of this Parliament. I am a fervent advocate of such an investment in our communication networks on a local and a national level, and by hosting events such as these that bring's Stroud one step closer to realising such an investment in our area.

 

Week Beginning: Monday, 5th September

After the summer recess, the Houses of Parliament returned to session on Monday for a few weeks before the beginning of the party conference season. On Tuesday morning, members of the Education Committee at the House of Commons including myself visited the Department for Education on Great Smith Street in Central London to be given briefings on the running of, and the current state of the department which was very insightful, a committee hearing was held on Wednesday morning and an Environmental Audit Committee hearing in the afternoon.

In our globalising world it is becoming ever increasingly important to understand and work with countries across the globe, this is especially so at present as the the Eurozone is fraught with perilous difficulties. Therefore attending the Conservative China Group on Wednesday morning is important as China is a critical investor in the sovereign wealth of many European Countries and is a leading voice in the crisis over the embattled currency area and will be a core part of any solutions that can be found.

This week I held a surgery in Nailsworth which was well attended, following meetings at Stroud District Council in the morning with its leadership. This year's Frampton Fair was held on Sunday where I got to meet and talk with constituents en masse, and also got to take part in the tractor parade.

 

Week Beginning: Monday, 29th August

In the final week before the Houses of Parliament returns to session following the summer recess I took the opportunity to spend as much time working in the Constituency as I could. On Friday I attended an event at Stroud College talking with students about politics and the duties of a Member of Parliament which I feel is always a welcome experience.

For much of the working week my days were scheduled with meetings ranging from individual constituents bringing to me their concerns, local not-for-profit groups and representatives of businesses involved in the area. Meetings such as they make up a large part of my week whether I am predominantly in the Constituency or in Westminster.

On Wednesday evening I attended a debate at Stroud Suscription Rooms regarding the future of the National Health Service that was organised by Stroud Town Council. The NHS is our perhaps our most loved and cherished institution in this Country and therefore it is understandable that there is a great deal of anxiety when any proposals are raised by any Government to better the services provided by it. The facts are that the health service will remain free to all at the point of use, it will provide all the services it presently does it will not be privatised. Cost pressures are too great on the NHS as the rising costs of treatment and the growing demand presented by an aging population to stand still, to protect the NHS we must ensure that spending can be kept under control as any small percentage rise in costs is extremely serious when the service in England costs over £100 billion a year at present.

 

Week Beginning: Monday, 22nd August

This week I returned from holiday in Southern France which was a refreshing break to be had, and I was back to work on Thursday. On Friday I held my weekly surgery in the Dursley away which is typically held there once a month and the following day I held a surgery again, this time at my Constituency Office in London Road, Stroud.

Since my last update in July, the Houses of Parliament were recalled for one day in the second week of August so the Prime Minister could give an update to the House of the Commons on details surrounding nationwide rioting and so MPs could debate the matter. For more on my position, please visit the following link from the news section of this website: http://www.neilcarmichael.co.uk/blog/2011/08/neil-carmichael-condemns-national-violence

 

Week Beginning: Monday, 25th July

The Houses of Parliament last week began its summer recess last week and consequently I will be primarily based in the Constituency until it returns to session in September. On Wednesday morning I had a meeting with members of the Stroud Christian Fellowship representing the national debt charity, Christians against Poverty. Since November, the local branch in Stroud has assisedt over thirty people, and they have had their first individual become debt free through their intervention. If anybody is struggling with debt and feel that they need help, please call Christians against Poverty on 0800 328 0006.

Later on Wednesday, I chaired a meeting in Gloucester attended by representatives of three other MPs in Gloucestershire, plus BT to coordinate efforts across the County to promote and lobby for investment in superfast broadbank in Gloucestershire. It is clear that there is increasing consensus to increase pressure to realise this aim, and that it is a priority countywide.

My weekly surgery on Friday was in Berkeley which was typically productive and informative; my next surgery on Friday 5th August is in Stonehouse for which there is space still available to attend. If you wish to meet with me, please contact my Constituency Office on 01453 751572

Week Beginning: Monday, 18th July

The Houses of Parliament this week went on recess for the summer; the session officially came to an end on Tuesday though due to investigations surrounding News International the Prime Minister gave a statement to the House of Commons last Wednesday, allowing MPs to debate proceedings and to allow the Government to clarify its position and developments regarding inquiries.

Two months ago, recruitment consultant Edward Wild and I, published a report on the future of school governance, what more could be done to ensure greater representation, give them more authority and empower them to run their schools in a manner they see fit (News report from May: http://www.neilcarmichael.co.uk/blog/2011/05/who-governs-the-governors-neil-carmichael-mp-opens-cross-party-debate/). On Monday, the inaugural meeting of the All-party parliamentary group (APPG) on Education Governance and Leadership was held, which will seek to inform and lead the debate on school governance, and to lobby the Department for Education to consider its proposals and policy stances.

On returning to the Constituency on Thursday evening once the recess had well and truly begun a busy weekend lay ahead of me, on Friday I hosted my weekly surgery in Dursley which, as always, was well attended, following and before other meetings with constituents in Stroud and in Dursley.

 

Week Beginning: Monday, 11th July

It was both very busy and interesting in Westminster and the Constituency this week, which on Friday managed to merge together. The Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, visited the Constituency Office following attending events in Gloucester, to talk with the head teachers of the secondary schools in the constituency about applying for academy status and the funding formula for schools and how that can be changed to better suit local schools.

Earlier in the day I was invited to the opening of the latest Emmaus Store in London Road, Stroud. Emmaus a charity that operates across the Country and the World that helps bring people back into the mainstream of society who would be otherwise homeless. The store was opened by the President of the organisation, Terry Waite CBE, famous as a hostage negotiator who himself was taken hostage for many years in the Lebanon.

There are many responsibilities when you are a Member of Parliament and few perks, though I received one on Tuesday. I was delighted to accept an invitation to attend a garden party hosted by Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace, throughout the summer Her Majesty typical hosts three such parties which are attended by many thousands of people as a way to thank and reward them for their public service.Seeing so many people?recognised in such a manner is a very visible reminder of how hard many people work, not for themselves, but for the betterment of the communities in which they live.

 

Week Beginning: Monday, 4th July

It was a typically hectic week at the Houses of Parliament in the first week of July, which was blown off course by the widening impact of the News of the World scandal. This was very shocking and is a stain on the longstanding principle in this Country of the freedom of the press, I have received correspondence from many hundreds of people on the matter, you can find my response and thoughts on the matter on the news section of the website here: http://www.neilcarmichael.co.uk/blog/2011/07/neil-carmichaels-response-to-the-news-of-the-world-scandal/

International relations was a big part of my week, on Monday the Secretary of State for Defence and his ministerial team made an appearance in the House of Commons to take questions from MPs, I took the opportunity to enquire into the nature and effectiveness of the military relationship between France and the United Kingdom following the signing of a landmark treaty last year brining a new level of relationship to such affairs. Later in the week, a debate took place regarding Afghanistan and Pakistan, this was one of the most informative and enlightening debates in which I have taken part as a Member of Parliament, the depth of knowledge and understanding on such a critical matter to our national security and global stability as displayed by MPs of all parties I find deeply reassuring - Rory Stewart, the Member for Penrith and the Border, by his own calculations since 2001, has been to Afghanistan a staggering 57 times. In my contribution to the debate, I spoke about the need to ensure an international compact that guarantees security, sovereignty and freedom. It took Europe 30 years following the Second World War to design such a treaty in the guise of the Helsinki Accords, and in less than half that time, following its ratification, the Soviet Union had begun to implode and lead to the World we see and enjoy today. If on our withdrawal of military forces from Central Asia in the next few years we can leave such a framework in place then that would be doubtless reasons for increased optimism.

 

Week Beginning: Monday, 27th June

It was a busy week as usual at the House of Commons, before a just as busy weekend on returning to Gloucestershire. On Wednesday the Environmental Audit Committee, on which I sit, released a report about the impact of overseas aid on climate change. It is the view of the Committee that the United Kingdom should only support projects, NGOs, and multilateral institutions for international development purposes that meet are expectations on being friendly to the environment, that the UK should only provide assistance for renewable energy sources and not fossil fuel based ones.

On returning to the Constituency, I returned to the 'All Pulling Together' Centre in Stonehouse for the first time since opening it beside Mattie Ross in the Spring. Stroud District Councillor for Stonehouse Phil Bevan and I were giving a tour of the facilities and an update on how well the centre is performing. It is a fantastic asset for the town and proves what can be done when public services and not-for-profit groups can do when they work together.

I was invited this week to a local event, hosted by the Stroud Labour Party, to discuss the future of the National Health Service and the proposals of the Coalition Government to reform it. This has been a very significant issue on both the local and national stages this year, I received many hundreds of letters and e-mails in a very short time in the Spring and it continues to constitute a large swathe of my overall mailbag. The Coalition Government and bankbenchers in support of the Bill, must make it clear and continue to do so in the future, why such reform is necessary and how it can be beneficial for healthcare and the national as a whole, and this was one such opportunity for me to further that.

Week Beginning: Monday, 20th June

The Houses of Parliament are currently in session and will be until the end of July, therefore I spent most of the week in London before returning to the Constituency on Thursday evening. On Wednesday afternoon I attended a Westminster Hall Debate and spoke at length - nearly my one hundred and fiftieth debate since I became an MP - regarding the use of the Private Finance Initiative (PFI). The PFI is a method of investing in public service infrastructure where the private sector provides the capital cost and the Government pays it back over many years thus allowing the state to invest to a greater extent when it may not have the funds itself to do so. Nearly 1,000 projects have been funded in such a manner ranging from secondary schools, to hospitals and procurement projects, here in Gloucestershire the GCHQ headquarters in Cheltenham was funded by PFI and so have improvements at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

Many NGOs and charities come to the Houses of Parliament every year to lobby MPs and Peers and host events, I was delighted on Tuesday to have attended the 25^th anniversary celebration of the founding of the National Osteoporosis Society which remains the only charity that operates nationwide to raise awareness and provide support for a condition that has afflicted one in five men and half of all women over the age of fifty. This is a very worthy cause and deserves the support of MPs for all the work that they do.

Week Beginning: Monday, 13^th June

On Wednesday we had an important witness come and testify before the Environmental Audit Committee - the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Huhne MP, responsible for the Department of Energy and Climate Change. He came to talk to us about 'Carbon Budgets' as contained in the Climate Change Act 2008, a carbon budget is a specified quota of emissions the United Kingdom is permitted by law to release in a particular timeframe. I asked the Secretary of State why he abandoned the plans of the previous Government to set a quota of carbon cuts within the portfolios of individual Government Departments, what powers the Department of Energy and Climate Change has to enforce their policy decisions to other Government Departments, and how in an impending era of 'Localism' how can his Department ensure that lesser carbon emissions will be sought. He gave very solid and encouraging answers to my questions and to those of the other members of the Committee, in particular he suggested the possibility that district councils may offer council tax rebates to those with energy efficient homes.

On Wednesday Evening the Welform Reform Bill had it's third reading in the House of Commons which is the last vote on a piece of legislation before it moves to the floor of the House of Lords. It passed with a majority of 50 by a vote of 288 - 238, I voted in favour of the Bill as it tightens up and streamlines the social benefits system. Should it receive the Royal Assent the Department of Works and Pensions will no longer administer a myriad of different schemes but will create the 'Universal Credit' which cover all current benefits the DWP currently run. This will lessen the burden of bureaucracy, make it simpler to run and for individuals to claim and will make it easier to track who is claiming what, this is especially important as Households will be limited to a maximum payout of £26,000 a year. This ensures that no individuals will be permitted to suffer but simultaneously will be unable to achieve a standard of living beyond hardworking taxpayers.

On Returning to the Constituency for the weekend I attended a number of local events, on Saturday I went on the Chalford Hill and France Lynch Garden Trail which takes place over a weekend every June where a large number of local home owners open their gardens to any members of the public who are interested in horticulture and the English Countryside in order to raise funds for local groups and charities. This was following my weekly surgery which was held at my Constituency Offices in Stroud, and before I attended mid-afternoon Rodborough Fete.

Week Beginning: Monday, 6^th June

This was a notably busy week, Parliament returned to session and I had meetings with regard to the Environmental Audit and Education Committees, events at Parliament and also a meeting at Downing Street though I would like to focus on one event in particular.

The Royal British Legion this Summer is recognising its ninetieth anniversary, formed in the aftermath of the First World War when the nation was struggling to come to terms with the human cost of the most destructive conflict in our history, The Royal British Legion has been at the forefront of recognising the sacrificed made by millions of men and women across a painful century of warfare in defence of the Realm. From the Great War to campaigns in Libya and Afghanistan today the Royal British Legion has been providing critical support to veterans and their families for their return to civilian and peacetime life, for assistance in their retirement, and for help if they fall on hard times. On Saturday, I paid my own small tribute to the Royal British Legion by hosting a Poppy Party at my Constituency Office in Stroud, it was a great occasion that both raised a small amount of money for the cause though also raisef awareness, that this is a charity still very relevant today that helps those in our society who put their lives on the line to defend it.

Week Beginning: Monday, 30^th May

I spent this week attending to Constituency matters, as Parliament does not return from the Whitsun recess until next Tuesday. It was a busy week, filled with meetings and site visits and not least my regular surgery appointments. On Friday I was in Stonehouse meeting with constituents who have questions regarding policy or are seeking my help for personal matters, now in my second year as MP I have held nearly fifty such surgeries around the Constituency since taking office. I am available to any constituent for such meetings though appointments are in popular demand, if you would like to meet with me please contact my Constituency Office on 01453 751572 who can arrange that for you.

An issue that has been taking up a significant part of my time lately is that of broadband connectivity in the Constituency, as many people are aware the provision of services is currently patchy and inconsistent and that the Government is committed to nationwide superfast broadband by 2015. I have been holding many meetings recently and I am party to discussions with a wide variety of stakeholders including service providers, pressure groups and local government to see what we can do to ensure that we in Gloucestershire are not left behind in this upgrading of vital infrastructure and are instead at the forefront of it. I am confident that if the public demand for such services can be displayed and if the requisite amount of political support can be levelled then we will be ultimately successful in this objective.

On Wednesday evening, I held a public event for all interested parties regarding the status of the Purton Hulks, in the village of Purton near Berkeley. For many years shipwrecks have rested on the banks of the River Severn at Purton and over time the area has come to host the largest number of wrecks on the British mainland. The wrecks are not protected by preservation law and consequently they are vulnerable to removal so I undertook a meeting to solicit the views of local and interest people about what they want to see happen to the site. Also to this end I sent out hundreds of questionnaires to local residents to ask them about their views on the Purton Hulks, whether they should be maintained, and what ramifications there are on the village due to their presence. Based on the response I receive I will be releasing a summary of these findings.

Week Beginning: Monday, 23^rd May

Parliament on Tuesday went into recess and will not return until Tuesday, 7^th June, this however was not before I unveiled a report at the Houses of Parliament on Monday evening. Entitled 'Who Governs the Governors: School Governance in the Twenty First Century' is a report that asks what more can we get from school governors, and what we can do to increase their job performance, their transparency and their membership. The committee room was filled to capacity with head teachers, governors, local government officials and executives from various governors and school associations and advocacy groups, besides other esteemed individuals in their fields and MPs and Peers from across the political spectrum. Given this level of interest, support and commitment I will be forming an 'all party parliamentary group' on school governance which I hope will lead the debate on this matter and influence the Department for Education to consider reform of this area.

Despite the fact the recess began on Tuesday morning Parliamentarians remained in London until the following day, as the President of the United States was giving a speech to the membership of both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall on Wednesday afternoon. He spoke with his accustomed eloquence about the relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, the importance of democracy and Britain's role in developing it besides the issues of Libya and Afghanistan.

Back in the constituency I met on Thursday afternoon with Tessa Barrett, Tessa is the elected member for the combined constituencies of Stroud and Cotswolds in the national youth parliament. Elected to office by her peers, she came to see me to discuss matters ranging from cheaper services on local buses for young people and the perception of her generation by the national media, I find it encouraging that younger people are educated in and interested about national matters. The evening on the following day I hosted a reception for 'The Door' at my constituency offices, the local charity that gives assistance to young people who have no one to turn to when they are left without meaningful support. They are my adopted charities for the year and I am glad to have been able to support them.

Week Beginning: Monday, 16^th May

The Houses of Parliament are once again in full flow and my schedule was largely tied up in London though I did have the opportunity to invite Severn Vale Rotary Club to Westminster. I was delighted to host them on a tour of the premises including the Great Hall, Central Lobby and the visitor's gallery of the House of Commons. I am very happy to accommodate individuals or groups from the constituency if they wish to come to Parliament; Prime Minister's Questions on a Wednesday is an oversubscribed event with a long waiting list though I can apply for tickets on your behalf. In order to come to any other debate in both Houses of Parliament and Committee Hearings you may attend by queuing at the public entrance in Parliament Square for which you do not need a ticket beforehand or reserve a place.

On Tuesday afternoon I had a meeting with Grant Shapps MP, Minister of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government alongside the Cabinet Member for Housing on Stroud District Council Cllr Deborah Young regarding the needs of the local authority in maintaining and developing the council housing stock and plans for the future. Earlier in the day I had a meeting with Francis Maude MP, Minister of State at the Cabinet Office who gave me a briefing on the current state of the Government sponsored Public Bodies Bill which has progressed through the House of Lords and in recent weeks has been introduced to the House of Commons.

On Thursday afternoon a debate was held in the House of Commons with regard to the implementation of rural superfast broadband. This is something I am a staunch advocate of as it is widely needed to bring our information technology to a more competitive level internationally and domestically will prevent a two-tier playing field from opening up where towns and cities have such capabilities whilst large swathes of rural areas do not. I have written to parish and town councils within the constituency to encourage them to take such services up, and I am also in dialogue with British Telecom, who I am inviting to the constituency, to ascertain their programme to upgrade their broadband infrastructure - BT will be able to offer such services in Nailsworth from the end of this year.

Week Beginning: Monday, 9^th May

I had a heavy workload in Parliament this week, from attending debates, to meeting Ministers to receiving policy and issue briefings. On Wednesday following Prime Minister's Questions I had a working lunch with Ed Davey MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills regarding reform of the postal service. Following this, I attended a session of the Environmental Audit Committee where we launched a new enquiry to assess air quality in the United Kingdom and whether the Government is in compliance with related directives from the European Union.

On Thursday morning I attended a very interesting breakfast meeting where the keynote speaker, a notable Israeli political commentator gave his analysis of current affairs in the Middle East and the state of the peace process between Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Later on in the day I received a briefing from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister of State Jeremy Browne MP and UK ambassadors to Brazil, Mexico and India regarding, and issues surrounding the rise of emerging economies on the world stage.

Another important event I took part in this week was a debate in the House of Commons Chamber regarding fisheries which I have received many queries from concerned constituents about, an issue that I am concerned about. For people who would like to find out more I have written an open letter which can be found in the news index on this site, or at the following link http://www.neilcarmichael.co.uk/blog/1900/04/my-response-to-the-fish-fight-campaign/

Week Beginning: Monday, 2nd May

Unfortunately I was very ill this week and was sent home from Parliament, most of my schedule was cancelled.

Week Beginning: Monday, 25th April

After three weeks on recess, I returned to the House of Commons the day following Easter Monday. Whilst Parliament may occasionally be adjourned, the business of Government continues these issues must be addressed when MPs return to Westminster. On Tuesday evening I received a briefing on the state of affairs in Libya, of UN sanctioned military action, of human suffering in the likes of Misratah and of the stability of the state regime in Tripoli.

Due to the recess I was very busy with committee hearings this week; I was a part of two hearings conducted by the Environmental Audit Committee looking into different matters. On Wednesday we were taking evidence regarding environmental taxes - primarily surrounding their effectiveness and costliness - from economists, advocates for environmental protection and advocates for fair taxation. The following day I had a second hearing with the Committee, this time ascertaining the impact of British overseas aid on environmental protection with testimony provided by expert witnesses.

Not to be left out, the Education Committee of which I am a member held two sessions consecutively on Wednesday morning where evidence was taken. The first matter for discussion was oral evidence provided by Professor Alison Wolf in accompaniment of the Wolf Review of vocational education. Michael Gove MP, the Secretary of State for Education believes the review to be of great significance and will be considering many of the proposals it makes regarding young people, job training and qualifications. This was directly followed by the matter of the introduction of the English Baccalaureate, with evidence on behalf of the Department for Education and the Government provided by Nick Gibb MP, the Minister for Schools.

Week Beginning: Monday, 18th April

I spent the week in the Constituency as this was the third of three weeks the Houses of Parliament spent adjourned over the Easter period before returning on Tuesday, 26^th April. There were two reasons that made this week unusual, firstly that Stroud and the rest of the Country experienced a heatwave taking temperatures beyond the July average, and secondly in spite of this I had a meeting on Tuesday regarding the gritting of our roads and pavements to deal with winter conditions.

It was held in response to the serious degradation in surfaces following a succession of snowfalls in December that caused great difficultly for the local community and the economy, and concerns that plans in place to alleviate such conditions were lacking. With this in mind we discussed what can be improved upon and what more needs to be done to ensure that local roads are better prepared should we have a repeat at the end of this year or anytime in the future.

Also this week I attended a meeting of the GL11 Stakeholders Group which is a coming together of the local levels of government with responsibility or authority for Dursley regarding development for the town and that of the local vicinity. There is lots of great work going on that will be to the benefit of local residents such as the 'Dursley in Bloom' initiative which is progressing nicely,as is the availability of new housing in the town which is very much in demand.

Week Beginning: Monday, 11^th April.

The Easter recess continues at Parliament and consequently I am able to remain in Stroud, allowing me to meet with more Constituents that I otherwise could. On Wednesday morning I was able to welcome the recently appointed High Sheriff of Gloucestershire to the Constituency. Mark Heywood was chosen by Her Majesty to serve as the judicial representative of the Crown to the County, the ancient role no longer has many executive functions remaining though a High Sheriff still carries responsibility and influence and is able to play a role in mediation, encourage and help create crime deterring and fighting initiatives, and bring about more effective discussion between institutions of authority and the wider community. I welcome his appointment and look forward to working with him over his twelve month term.

Another countywide official I met for the first time during the week was Jon Hall in his new position as the Chief Fire Officer for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Services at his headquarters in Quedgeley. We discussed what we can do to better serve people in Stroud and the County as a whole, to protect them and their property and how the fire service can be organised more efficiently to deal with such matters. I always find such meetings and discussions productive as they give me a greater insight into how important services are delivered and how hard people work to manage them effectively, and I take that with me to represent Stroud in the House of Commons.

On Friday and Saturday I devoted attention to the matter of social and commercial pressures inducing the sexualisation of young girls such as retailers and advertising targeting younger and younger people to buy cosmetics and adult clothing. I spoke at an event regarding the subject in Cheltenham emphasising that more needs to be done by many in the community to avert such pressures, but not before having a meeting about it with a constituent representing an advocacy group on Friday.

Week Beginning: Monday, 4th April

It is important in the current climate that we do all we can to encourage private sector development, one way of doing that is ensuring that businesses have sound support, ?networking and opportunities to help their local communities. Therefore I am delighted to have attended two such groups that are doing just that. Last Tuesday I attended and spoke at a meeting with the Rotary Club who are increasing their presence in the Constituency by opening a branch in Dursley. Then on Saturday I had a meeting, this time in Stonehouse at an initiative called 'Stonehouse Live' that brings together the local business community with local churches and the organisation Psalms to better understand what more they can do to support one another.

It is important to support businesses and their concerns individually, especially those that delve into emerging areas and those that support matters of great interest. On Tuesday I visited BPI in Stroud who is one of the largest recyclers in Europe, over 70,000 tonnes of recycled goods every year. Their local plant is one of five across the country that plastic, typically in the form of carrier bags. It is innovators like these that will ensure that UK becomes more environmentally friendly and efficient, helping us meet our energy targets and in an unimposing manner. Another example of such a company locally is Lister Shearing; on Thursday I visited their offices in Dursley from where they export clipping and shearing equipment to sixty. As a farmer who has done a spot of sheep shearing here and there I am very grateful for such technology as it has led to agriculture becoming more mechanised and time efficient.

Finally with reference to both energy and the environment I attended a meeting last Wednesday in Berkeley regarding the civil nuclear industry. A new power station at Oldbury will create thousands of jobs increasing the local employment base. It is important that we do all we can to ensure the safety and integrity of such installations and to also take on board the concerns of local residents.

Week Beginning: Monday, 28th March
In preparation for the upcoming Parliamentary Recess I placed my focus this week on matters at Westminster. A number of Parliamentary Questions I had submitted to the Government were responded to, on Tuesday the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills reaffirmed to me their commitment to see superfast broadband rolled out nationwide comprehensively by 2015. On Thursday another question got answered, this time by Defra regarding the continual assessment and monitoring of flood risk in England to which is an issue important for everybody in our constituency. Related to this I made a request of the Leader of the House of Commons, Sir George Young, for a debate to be held regarding the accessibility of flood risk and prevention plans by individuals and localism in such discussions, in response I was informed that the Environment Agency would be made aware of my thoughts on the matter.

On Monday, I as part of a group of Conservative MPs, had a meeting at the Ministry of Defence with the Defence Secretary, Dr Liam Fox. The Issue of military involvement in Libya were raised to which the Defence Secretary gave an assuring response and a comprehensive update of our efforts there and those of our allies inside and outside of NATO. I am an advocate of influencing policy by subtle diplomacy thus avoiding prolonged battles of attrition in the open and raising the hopes of those with a vested interest.

This week was also a busy one with regard to my commitment to Parliamentary Committees, on Wednesday morning prior to Prime Minister's Questions I was fully involved with the Education Committee. We are currently holding an inquiry into services provided for young people, such as the training they are given, and the availability of education and apprenticeship for those working with young people. This involved oral evidence provided by Government advisors on such matters, Union executives and senior officers at not-for-profit groups and significant corporations.

I was also involved with the Environmental Audit Committee that I also serve on, on Thursday we were studying the Government's strategy of embedding environmental policy and initiatives across all departments with testimony provided by the Secretary of State of Defra, Caroline Spelman and by the Cabinet Office Minister Oliver Letwin.

Week Beginning: Monday, 21st March

I decided to start the week by focusing on the constituency before business in London, as I headed to Stonehouse to open the new All Pulling Together Central Community Shop on the Park Estate. From there it was straight to the station and a train to London, where I discussed the Health Paper with Stephen Dorrell, Head of the Health Select Committee. I also raised the issue of rural broadband in a Westminster Hall debate, and was lucky enough to get a question in at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, where I raised the important issue of apprenticeships.

Wednesday also saw the welcome announcement in the budget that money has been made available for the doubling of the line between Kemble and Swindon, which will be completed by March 2014 at the latest. This is a very welcome announcement after a great deal of campaigning by all Gloucestershire MPs and the local authorities, and will see a 12.5 mile stretch of line re-aligned and then doubled, allowing two trains per hour in both directions between Cheltenham and Swindon, and a direct service from Stonehouse and Stroud to London Paddington every hour. The budget also saw good news for motorists, with the introduction of a fuel stabiliser and a reduction on fuel duty: encouraging developments for all forms of transport, in my opinion. I finished my work in Westminster with a question on solar power to Gregory Barker, Minister of State in the Department for Energy and Climate Change.

Back in the constituency, I had an excellent meeting with Peter Cartwright and Loop Scorpio to discuss broadband connections in Painswick, before going on to a well-attended press conference at Stroud station to celebrate Wednesday's announcement with representatives from First Great Western and Network Rail. The week ended with an enjoyable visit to Nailsworth Farmers Market, before a tour of the newly re-opened Woodchester Mansion.

Week Beginning: Monday, 14th March

I am sure most people will be aware of the importance and significance of the events in Libya. The Prime Minister answered questions on the situation in the House last Monday, and a special debate was convened last Thursday in the House of Commons to discuss the wider Middle East. During this debate, I stressed that we must place special emphasis on the protection of human and civil rights and intervention is only justified when it is asked for.

This present week the focus of Parliament will be on the Chancellor who is due to unveil the Budget for the upcoming year. With this in mind I have already asked questions of the Government and raised points in Parliament, last Monday I received a written answer to my request for official statistics on our balance of trade with India and China and on Thursday I raised the possibility of having a debate on Local Government finance. I also had meetings during the week alongside other MPs with the Institute for Fiscal Studies concerning the upcoming budget. I believe it to be of paramount importance that I do all that I can, inside and outside of the Chamber of the House of Commons, to ensure the continued recovery of the economy locally and nationally.

I regularly hold receptions for stakeholders in our communities and this week was no exception. On Friday evening I hosted local Parish and Town Councils at my Constituency Office in Stroud, such events are a good opportunity to talk about local issues. On Sunday I visited the Stroud District Youth Council to hear the views and perspectives of young people of our current state of affairs. Finally, this week I held my surgery in Stroud on Saturday morning where a recurring issue was problems at the Child Support Agency. I intend to ask questions about this issue in the House, as it is important that issues like this raised locally are brought to the attention of law makers.

Week Beginning: Monday, 7th March

Even though I am in my first year as your Member of Parliament, I noticed early on that life in the House of Commons is always hectic. Last week was no exception. On Wednesday I put a question to David Cameron during Prime Minister's Questions regarding the Alternative Vote system in which he reiterated his position that he is against it. Following this I had a meeting with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne. It is often put forward that backbench MPs do not have much of a role in the national discussion, though I personally disagree. I believe that the quiet marshalling of persuasive argument can have an effect on a national and local level.

Back in the constituency, I had many meetings with constituents, some were part of my surgery hours, which this week took place in Chalford, as part of my determination to ensure that I should be accessible to all members of my constituency, wherever they live. I also attended a conference at Hamfields Leisure Centre with other Gloucestershire Conservative MPs, to promote the civil nuclear industry in Gloucestershire.

On a more light-hearted level, I was challenged by the Editor of Stroud Life, Jason Chare to a biscuit dunk-off' in support of the Meningitis Trust. Whilst not a matter of national security, for some it can be a matter of life or death, and the work the Meningitis Trust does is important in raising awareness of a very serious illness. Although I lost, I was glad to have been asked and happy to provide support to such a worthwhile charity.