One of the joys of being an MP is the variety that each day brings. One of the hardest questions to answer is – and invariably I am asked it on a school visit: ‘What is a typical week like for you?’ The joy is that there is no ‘typical’ day. Parliamentary time is obviously set by when votes are scheduled to take place. My chairmanship of the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee has, given current issues, taken up quite a bit of time. Serving my constituents by responding to their needs and meeting them is also, rightly, a hefty chunk. So, below I will try to answer, in bullet form the question posed.
– Two advice surgeries meeting constituents to help address problems, such as housing, health and accessing Special Educational Needs, they are having;
– Researching and preparing a letter to the Planning Inspectorate in opposition to the Deer Park proposal in Blandford;
– Meeting with representatives of the military to drive forward digital and skills links between our Dorset armed forces and the private sector;
– Briefing with police to discuss local concerns which have been raised with me from Blandford, Verwood and Gillingham;
– Conversation with the Prisons Minister regarding HMP Guys Marsh;
– Met the Roads Minister to discuss investment in the C13/A350 Shaftesbury-Blandford roads;
– Catch-up meeting with the leadership of Dorset Council to discuss a raft of issues but particularly raising the issue of verge-side littering and fly tipping;
– Attending a fundraising, toe-tapping, concert by RokiT at Gillingham’s Methodist Church raising money for the Turkey/Syria Earthquake Disaster Appeal;
– Researching and writing 100 questions as quizmaster for the St Gregory’s, Marnhull, PTFA spring fundraiser – a great night was had, winning score 118 out of 140;
– Discussion with the Home Secretary concerning breaking the evil of people trafficking and the need for Safe & Legal routes;
– On the select committee front that has included media work around the Windsor Framework, a meeting with the Bundestag’s EU affairs committee, a briefing from Speaker’s Counsel on the Framework; a ‘town hall’ virtual event with 300 NI residents to discuss the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement; podcast interview with Washington-based Atlantic Council and cross-examining the Secretary of State regarding NI Paramilitaries;
– Breakfast meeting with the Prime Minister at Number 10 to discuss a whole range of issues;
– Planting trees at the Milldown Nature Reserve in Blandford with fantastic local councillors Noc Lacey-Clarke, Byron Quayle and Sherry Jesperson and the brilliant Dorset Council Rangers Team;
– Attended the careers fair at the Exchange in Sturminster Newton talking to local students and a range of local business and college/training providers;
– Virtual meeting with the Schools Minister to go over some local schools issues;
– Wrote to all Park Home constituents with the information to allow them to claim their off-grid heating support payment.