It has been a busy few weeks back in Parliament and at home in the constituency after conference recess.  

I am pleased to be able to share that last week, I was elected by fellow MPs onto the House of Commons Business and Trade Select Committee.

Select Committees exist for each government department and play an important role in examining three aspects: spending, policies and administration. They are cross party and have up to 11 members.  

Previously, I sat on the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee in 2018 and 2019 and then the International Trade Committee from 2017 to 2020. I found both to be valuable forums for examining key issues within those areas.  

Business and Trade covers from self-employed start ups and high street businesses to major multi-nationals.

Given my previous career in the car industry and work I have done since on supporting UK businesses such as Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin, I am looking forward to focusing on all the challenges faced but also enabling us to seize on the opportunities. It is clearly very important for our community.

In national news, I very much welcome the announcement this week from the new Government that a new independent commission is launching the largest review of the water industry in 35 years.

We have seen the utterly disgusting state of our waterways across the country in recent years; full of sewage, making people ill and harming wildlife. It is beyond unacceptable.   

As the Environment Secretary said, the water sector is failing, and a root and branch review of the industry is what is needed. This will deliver that.  

Finally, some of you will have seen that the new Health Secretary has launched the biggest national conversation about our NHS and is asking the public for their views, experiences and ideas which will help shape a new 10 Year Health Plan for England.  

We all know how much we all value the NHS and the service it has and continues to provide us and our loved ones for over 7 decades. This is about making sure it can be there for us for the next seven decades, and many more.  

Please do consider taking some time to submit your thoughts, whether you have a little or a lot to say. This Government is listening and wants to hear from you.  

You can share your views and experiences at change.nhs.uk  

As always, please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any issues or concerns you would like to raise with me. I can be reached on [email protected] or on 01926 882006.