START THE WEEK blog: Monday 11th June
Questioning the Universities Minister, pressing on local NHS funding, and supporting small businesses - some of my week this week.
Monday 11th June - Parliament is back this week after a break for the Jubilee weekend and there's a lot to press the Government on. They've used the recess to try to avoid Parliamentary scrutiny of a series of humiliating u-turns on their disastrous budget. But pasties and caravans weren't the real problem with the budget; it was the absence of any strategy for jobs and growth. Even his own backbenchers are now telling George Osborne to stop trying to blame the eurozone and sort out the recession he's created.
I believe that small businesses will play a vital role in driving economic growth and today I'll be supporting an event at the House of Commons organised by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). I recently launched our regional FSB's 'Yorkshire Enterprise Club' and have pressed their concerns as a member of the Business Select Committee. Tomorrow the Select Committee will be turning our attention to higher education and questioning the Universities Minister David Willetts on his forced u-turn; the absence of the much-promised Higher Education Bill in the Queen's Speech and where it leaves our HE system.
I'm pleased to have been drawn in the ballot for Health Questions on Tuesday (there's always a lot of MPs seeking to put Lansley on the spot!) and will be using the opportunity to press on plans to cut funding from Sheffield NHS. I'll also be in the Chamber on Wednesday for the Labour-led debate on Jeremy Hunt and the Murdoch press; I questioned Hunt on the issue when he came before the House last month and am appalled that Cameron has discredited the Ministerial Code, introduced by Labour, by refusing to refer him to the Independent Adviser on the Code (while not hesitating to refer Baroness Warsi to him).
My other meetings in Westminster this week include issues as wide-ranging as manufacturing in our region, improving housing supply, and dangerous dog attacks on guide dogs. I'll also be participating in an Electoral Reform Society seminar on the local election results and a meeting of the Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform of which I'm Vice-Chair. On Wednesday I'll be supporting a lobby organised by the Brain Tumour Consortium and meeting with Pete Burchill of Sheffield charity Sophie's Wish.
I'll be heading back to Sheffield on Thursday, where I'll be attending the Dinner of the Association of Local Dental Committees, who are holding their national conference in the city this year. On Friday, I've a meetings with constituents and local organisations, including Sheffield Occupational Health Advisory Service and Sheffield First - before catching the England-Sweden game in the evening.
