Every Monday morning I’m posting my new ‘Start the Week’ piece which is a preview of my week. I want to keep informed about my work in Westminster and in Sheffield. Let me know your views and do pass on any feedback.  

Monday 3rd December - This week starts with a debate in Parliament on the Leveson report in which I hope to speak, as do lots of other MPs. The debate won't be making any decisions but it will provide an opportunity to voice responses to the report and Cameron's failure to commit to its recommendations. I'm disappointed that when faced with the choice between the overwhelming voice of public opinion and the press barons, Cameron chose the press barons. What do you think about the Leveson recommendations? Let me know as I'm keen to get your views. 

Otherwise my week will be again be dominated by the Growth and Infrastructure Bill Committee. Over the last three weeks we've fought against proposals to take planning powers from Local Authorities and reduce the amount of affordable housing in new development through the Section 106 provision, with overwhelming evidence on our side. This week were concentrating on the Government's disastrous plans to remove basic employment rights from employees in return for shares. This plan is ill-thought through and will only damage employees.

The Growth Bill has been the panic response to the failure of the Government's economic policy which will be the focus on Wednesday when I'll be in the House of Commons Chamber for the Chancellor's Autumn Statement. With their economic plans failing the country and criticism coming from all sides many will be hoping that George Osborne will finally recognise the need for a Plan B. But all signs are that he'll stubbornly stick to Plan A and we'll see more austerity and lack of growth. 

On Tuesday I'm launching Labour for Democracy, a new initiative that I've been working on with my colleague John Denham, to promote pluralism in politics. I've also got meetings in Westminster this week with Research Councils UK to find out more about the enormous contribution tha their research makes to public life; with NUS regarding student financial support; and with politicians from Bangladesh who are visiting the UK.

Back in Sheffield on Friday I've got one of regular student surgeries at Sheffield Hallam University Students Union between 12.30-1.30pm (so if you're a student at Hallam then do come along). I'm also meeting with a number of different groups who work with local asylum seekers to discuss their work and the issues that are facing asylum seekers in the city. I'll also be presenting a cheque to Headway Sheffield for the money that I helped raise for them in the summer. Headway Sheffield do great work to support people affected by brain injuries and I'm really pleased we were able to raise over £1000 for them.

Monday 26th November - This morning I'm chairing a keynote session at a national conference on 'Fair Access and Widening Participation in England's Universities' at which the main speaker is Alan Milburn, the former Labour Minister who was appointed Independent Reviewer on Social Mobility and Child Poverty by the current Government. I certainly agree with the main conclusions of Alan's recent report, 'University Challenge : How Higher Education Can Advance Social Mobility', which calls for a new strategy for encouraging non-traditional students, criticises the removal of Educational Maintenance Allowances, expresses concern over the removal of student number controls for students with higher A-level grades and argues for more investment in higher education to improve both social mobility and economic growth.

Later today I'm hosting a visit to Westminster from the University Technical College (UTC) for Sheffield City Region. The Chair of the UTC Trust and the College Principal will be briefing other regional MPs on the work of the UTC, which is being built in the heart of my constituency on the corner of Shoreham Street and Matilda Street, next to BBC Radio Sheffield. Offering top quality vocational education alongside an academic curriculum, for 14-19 year olds, the UTC is recruiting students now for next September. 

I'm also hoping to get into the Chamber this afternoon for David Cameron's anticipated statement on last week's EU budget summit. Cameron's capitulation to the Tory right on Europe has boxed him in politically and marginalised the UK - leading to the extraordinary position where the Vice-Chair of the Conservative Party today called for an electoral deal with UKIP, the Party that Cameron described as 'fruitcakes and closet racists'. What a contrast with Ed Miliband's firm leadership on the issue, making clear in his speech at the CBI last week that Labour would provide a strong voice for the UK at the heart of Europe. On Wednesday I'll be participating in a meeting of the All-Party Group on Migration, making the case for a new approach on international students

The rest of my week in parliament is dominated by the Growth and Infrastructure Bill, as I'm on the Committee which is debating the legislation clause-by-clause. We're winning the arguments against the removal of planning decisions from local Councils, the weakening of powers to press developers to include affordable housing in projects, and the removal of employment rights from workers in return for shares - but we're obviously losing the votes in a Committee whose membership provides the Government with a majority.  I'll be joining colleagues on the Business Innovation and Skills Select Committee on Tuesday for our ongoing inquiry on Women in the Workplace,  bringing the insight provided by women in business who joined the recent roundtable event that I organised in Sheffield.

Monday 5th November - When I write this piece on my way to Westminster every Monday morning, it's not always clear how the week will unfold. Last week I hadn't intended to speak in the debate on the EU budget, but changed my mind as things unfolded. After a number of speeches from Tory backbenchers that would have done the Daily Express proud (those who professed concern about children without shoes should look at their own policies), I wanted to make the point that EU funding had played a major role in the regeneration of Sheffield and South Yorkshire. I also wanted to move the debate away from the simple issue of the size of the budget to the need to press for it to be focussed on growth. You can see my speech here. On Wednesday I'll be going to an event organised by the Fabians and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung on developing more positive discussion on Europe. 

Emergency legislation last week also bounced the second reading of the Growth and Infrastructure Bill off last Tuesday's order paper, and we now start this week with it. I'll be there, as Hilary Benn's PPS, supporting our Shadow Communities and Local Government team's efforts to expose the Bill was the Government's panic reaction to the lack of growth - giving extraordinary powers to the Secretary of State to take planning decisions away from local Councils, and it weakens the powers of Councils to press developers to provide affordable housing. It also contains George Osborne's crazy idea to take away employment rights from workers in return for shares.

On Tuesday, I'm meeting Vince Cable and his team of Ministers at the Business Innovation and Skills Department, as a member of the BIS Select Committee. Our job involves scrutiny of the work of the Department (see last week's meeting) and this is a chance to raise issues less formally. My Westminster diary this week also includes meetings covering private equity companies' involvement in higher education, housing supply and affordable housing, Somalia and Somaliland, and Michael Gove's plans for GCSEs. I'm also meeting with executives from the John Lewis Partnership, discussing their business in Sheffield and the Sevenstones development, and I'm welcoming a group from the University of Sheffield Politics Society who are visiting Westminster on Wednesday. 

This week I'll be back in Sheffield on Thursday, when I'm organising a roundtable with women in business to provide a local voice into a Select Committee inquiry on barriers to women in the workplace. I'm also catching up with the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield and holding a student Q&A session at Hallam Union.  My Friday meetings include the City Council's Director of Place, Sheffield First and Sheffield City Region and then, in the evening I'll be at the Harland Cafe for their event with Marina Lewycka.  On Saturday, I've one of my regular open 'surgeries' for constituents and then I'll be out meeting people on doorsteps in Sharrow with Labour's candidate for Police and Crime Commissioner, Shaun Wright. On Sunday I'll be joining civic leaders to mark Remembrance Day in Barker's Pool.

Monday 22nd October - After a week in which he's been criticised from all sides for his failing leadership, David Cameron will be starting his week in the House of Commons today - and I'll be there, seeking to question him. His statement will be on the weekend meeting of the EU Council and nothing highlights his weak leadership more than his role in Europe. By posturing to the Europhobes in his own Party, rather than leading on the major issues we face, he has taken the UK from the centre of debate to the margins - no longer setting the agenda, just struggling to keep up.

Cameron's statement will be followed by a debate on the report of the Hillsborough Independent Panel, in which I'll also be participating. I'll also be in the Chamber on Thursday to support a motion opposing the Government's proposed badger cull, on which I've been contacted by many constituents. 

The Business Innovation and Skills Select Committee is meeting twice this week, on Tuesday to take evidence on the work of the Insolvency Service and on Thursday to discuss the report of our long-running inquiry into apprenticeships - and I'll also be participating in a meeting of the All-Party Group on Apprenticeships, of which I'm a member. The rest of my diary in Westminster this week includes meetings with the Director of Fair Access, the Head of the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action, Sue Ryder Care, and the Russell Group of universities.

Back in Sheffield on Friday I'm visiting Park Hill to catch up with the redevelopment of Sheffield's iconic flats, supporting our growing micro-brewing industry by brewing some beer at Blue Bee Brewery with Sheffield University's Real Ale Society, hearing about an oral history project in Broomhall, holding one of my regular open surgeries for constituents, meeting local Councillors and, in the evening, giving my monthly report to my Constituency Labour Party. On Saturday, I'm speaking at a national training event for the Student Stop Aids Campaign and then getting down to Bramall Lane to see if we can follow up our away wins with three points at home! Finally, on Sunday, I'm taking a team down to Corby to add our support to Labour's bye-election campaign.

Monday 8th October - My consultation week got off to a great start with a lively street stall and well-attended open meeting in Broomhill on Friday, and continued over the weekend with a meeting with young people organised by Amaka Ugcheba, our local Member of the UK Youth Parliament, and at Sharrow Festival.  With Parliament in recess for the Party Conferences, I've organised another 17 consultation events over the next 6 days, so do come along and let me have your views - or fill in my online survey. Find out more here.

After today's consultation events, I'm catching a train to Birmingham to speak at a meeting on international student visas at Conservative Party Conference. I've been working for over 18 months to change the Government's approach, which is damaging our universities and our economy. I wrote about the issue with Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi in the Sunday Times in July and am pleased to have the chance to put the case to Conservative Party delegates. 

My other activities this week include a meeting with South Yorkshire Chief Constable David Crompton and an event bringing together the city and our universities initiated by the late Dave Wickett, founder of the Fat Cat and Kelham Island Brewery. After the final consultation events on Saturday, I'll be at the Lane to see if the Blades can pick up three points at home after the recent away wins. Finally, on Sunday, I'll be seeing off a coach load of constituents who are heading to Brussels on a trip I've arranged to find out more about the European Parliament.  

Monday 1st October - I'm over at the Labour Party Conference in Manchester  and will be here until Thursday. Yesterday I joined my colleague John Denham MP at a Fabian Society event to launch 'Labour4Democracy', a new group drawing support from across the Party and of which I'm Chair.  L4D aims to build support for a more pluralist approach to politics, working with those from other parties who share common goals in seeking progressive change.
 
In the main hall, I'm looking forward to Ed Miliband's speech on Tuesday outlining Labour's developing programme for the radical change our country needs. Away from the main Conference, there's a busy programme of 'fringe' meetings and I'll be speaking at a couple - on the case for graduate tax in place of the £9000 tuition fees introduced by the Tories and also for a change to the immigration rules to take students out of net migration targets. I'll also be holding meetings and supporting events on a range of issues - from house building to Kashmir.

I'll be back in Sheffield on Friday to launch my annual report and consultation week, with a street stall and public meeting in Broomhill, followed up with an event on Saturday with the UK Youth Parliament to listen to the views of young people.  That will be followed by an opportunity to talk with people at the re-scheduled Sharrow Festival. 

Monday 24th September - Parliament is in recess this week for the Liberal Democrat Conference, in which Nick Clegg seems intent on digging himself deeper into the hole that he's created for his Party. His 'apology' (see my views below) for making his promise on tuition fees, but not for breaking it, glossed over the key point - that he knew he had no intention of keeping the pledge even as he was using it to secure all those student votes. And his pledge to press for the wealthy to pay more tax looks just as disingenuous from someone who led his Party in support of the Tories' tax cut for millionaires. 

I'm making the most of having a week in Sheffield. This morning I'll be at Sheffield Hallam University meeting new students at the Union's Welcome Fair (last week I was doing the same at the University of Sheffield). Both universities are in my constituency, and almost 32,000 of their students live here, and make a huge contribution to the city. On Wednesday I'll be joining up with my colleague Shabana Mahmood, Labour's Shadow Higher Education Minister, who is launching a tour of UK universities in Sheffield.

I'll also be at an event on Sheffield Children's Hospital's development plans, visiting Manor Post Office to talk about the problems facing local post offices, and catching up with the Chief Executive of the City Council.  Other meetings cover a range of issues including the new University Technical College, voter registration and Palestine.  I'll also be holding planning meetings with my staff team, who are so important to the work I'm able to do, and holding one of my regular open 'surgeries' for all constituents.

One of the great community organisations based in my constituency is 'Football Unites Racism Divides', who have an international reputation for their work challenging racism. On Saturday I'll be going along to their 'Vibes and Unity' festival on Devonshire Green, bringing together sport and music in a great afternoon of activity.  Afterwards I'll be at Bramall Lane, to see if we can pick up another three points, and then I'll be heading off to Labour Party Conference on Sunday morning.

Monday 17th September - The Commons starts this week with questions to Eric Pickles and Ministers at the Department of Communities and Local Government, so I'll be there as PPS to Hilary Benn supporting our Shadow Team. There's a lot to be pressing with the Government and our questions will be focussing on the housing crisis and the mess they're making of planning reform in an attempt to kickstart the economy. Labour's alternative covers both points; restore our tax on bankers bonuses which will raise £2billion a year and use the money to build 100,000 affordable homes, creating 25,000 jobs and getting the economy going.

I'll then join questioning of Michael Gove on his latest plans for exams, following his announcement in June that he wanted to revive O-levels. I'm getting fed up with his constant talking down of our schools, teachers and pupils. His rose-tinted vision of a past of grammar schools and inkwells ignores the reality of an under-resourced and divisive system which failed so many young people. And a 'one size fits all' system of assessment based on a single closed exam doesn't measure the abilities of all our children. What do you think; I'd welcome your views?

Parliament goes into a mini-recess after Tuesday for the Party Conference season, which has two bonuses for me. I'll get along to my first mid-week Blades game for about a year, but more importantly, I've time to spend on activity in the constituency. Among other things, I'll be visiting the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) which leads worldwide research in the fight against motor neuron disease (MND) and related neurological disorders. Because this pioneering work is taking place in the heart of my constituency, I've taken on a role in Parliament as Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on MND. 

I'll be joining other city leaders to welcome the Duke of York to open MADE, Sheffield's Festival of Entrepreneurship, and attending an evening event as part of their programme. It's a great initiative which celebrates the creativity and innovation which makes Sheffield a great place to build a business. I'll also be visiting Kelham Island to discuss plans for a new sustainable development of houses, flats and workplaces, I'll be meeting new students at the University of Sheffield (and next week at Hallam), attending an event for the Festival of the Mind, catching up on the difficult budget decisions being forced on the Council by the Government, meeting about Sheffield TV proposals, reporting back to the monthly meeting of my Constituency Labour Party, attending a dinner to celebrate the work of our great Sheffield Theatres and joining the Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow to open an event for the University of the 3rd Age.

Monday 3rd September - Parliament's back this week after the summer recess and I'm hitting the ground running. I've been picked at number 8 in the weekly draw for Prime Minister's Questions. I haven't decided what to raise with David Cameron yet, but feel spoilt for choice. Over the summer the impact of the Government's disastrous economic policies has been matched with the continuing calamities from individual Ministers. I'd be interested if you want to let me know what you'd raise if you got the chance to put Cameron on the spot or how his policies are affecting you. You can get in touch with me here or tweet me at @paulblomfieldmp

My week starts with a meeting of our Shadow Communities and Local Government team, of which I'm a member as PPS to Hilary Benn MP. We'll be planning for a busy week ahead with a debate on Fire and Rescue Services and continuing pressure on local government and housing issues. It's ironic that Housing Minister Grant Shapps is being tipped for promotion to the Cabinet when his failure on housing is increasingly under the spotlight (take a look here). During the recess I was able to catch up with South Yorkshire's Chief Fire Officer, and I'll be speaking in the debate on the unfair and disproportionate cuts for our area. 

On Tuesday I've a meeting of the Business Select Committee, where we'll be finalising a report on the impact of Government policies on international student visas. It's an issue I've been leading on in Parliament (see my views here) and I'll be speaking on it as part of a wider debate on migration on Thursday. On Tuesday I'm welcoming Officers from Sheffield Hallam University Students' Union to Westminster and we'll be talking about the issues facing them.  Both our great universities are in my constituency, and just under 32,000 of their students live here, so I work closely with their representatives. I'll also be welcoming my old friend Rony Robinson from Radio Sheffield, who'll be in Westminster for an outside broadcast linking Parliament with constituents back home.

Back in Sheffield on Friday, I've a number of meetings and am looking forward to joining Council Leader Julie Dore for the 'ground breaking' event for the new University Technical College to be developed in the heart of my constituency. On Saturday I've got one of my regular 'open surgeries' for constituents and am then meeting more local people at a coffee morning hosted by a resident in Cornish House.  Kelham Island is an important part of my constituency and I'm keen to keep in touch with everyone living there; if you'd like to come along to the coffee morning, do get in touch and I'll let you have the details. 

My week rounds off on Sunday with a national Oxfam training event, where I'm speaking on how to lobby MPs. I've a huge regard for Oxfam and am delighted to support them in this way - and even more pleased that they're holding the event here in Sheffield!

Monday August 6th - What a fantastic weekend! I managed to catch most of her Heptathlon heats, and was simply bowled over by Jessica Ennis. What an extraordinary performance, and in the face of the incredible pressure of the country's expectations. I'm pleased that Sheffield International Venues are thinking, not only about recognise her achievement in re-naming Don Valley Stadium, but about how to work with her in building sporting opportunities for young people in the city.

At the other end of the sporting spectrum, my walk for Headway Sheffield went well last week and a big 'thank you' to everyone who sponsored me. Together with the event at the Harland Cafe, to promote awareness of Headway's work to support people with brain injuries, I've raised £958 for this great local charity. It's not too late to contribute, and take me over £1,000 - just check in to my Just Giving page.

We're now in the middle of the Parliamentary recess, and I'll be taking a couple of weeks holiday in August, so I've decided to change my weekly look ahead to a monthly one. Although we're in recess, work doesn't stop and this week I'll be back in Westminster for a meeting of the Select Committee on Business Innovation and Skills. We'll be finalising a report on international student visas, which is an issue I've been working on. I was pleased that Total Politics magazine has picked up on the issue and I've written an article for the Yorkshire Post to follow up on my piece in the Sunday Times.

Back in Sheffield over the month ahead, I've meetings with Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, Marketing Sheffield, South Yorkshire Digital Region and others.  I'll be visiting the Friends of the General Cemetery, the Jubilee Foodbank, Sheffield Remploy, Action on Hearing, and the Cavendish Cancer Care Centre which is the beneficiary of this year's Master Cutler's Challenge that I helped to launch in March.

My weekly look ahead will be back on 3 September when Parliament is back after the summer recess.

Monday 23rd July - The House of Commons is in recess this week and I'm taking a couple of days off, before an all-day meeting with my staff team on Wednesday. It's a huge privilege representing our city in Parliament, but I couldn't do it without my great staff team. As well as all my Parliamentary work, I get around 300 letters, emails and phone calls every day, and rely on Tom, Andrea, Jason and Anna to help me deal with it all. I've focussed most of my staff budget on my Sheffield office, with only Andrea working with me in London. When Parliament's session, there's never time for us all to meet, so the recess provides a chance to get together to review our work, plan for the year ahead and make sure we're continuing to do our best for everyone in Sheffield Central.

It' also the last chance for all of us to get together to say thank you to the other key member of our team over the last year, our apprentice Secretary, Rebecca. She's played a really important role in the Sheffield office since joining us last summer and I'm delighted that we've been able support her, with Sheffield College, in developing the skills to go on to permanent employment.  Rebecca will be with us until 10 August, but we're rounding off the team day with a meal to celebrate her success.

Thursday and Friday is time for meeting with constituents and local organisations, as well as one of my regular 'open surgeries'. On Friday evening, I'll be reporting back to the monthly meeting of Sheffield Central Labour Party, where Rachel Reeves, Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury is the guest speaker - if you'd like to join the discussion, get in touch and I'll send you the details. We're starting the meeting early at 6.45pm, so we can all get back in time to watch the Olympics opening ceremony on TV.

Looking ahead to next week, I'm doing a sponsored walk with Tory MP Guy Opperman to raise funds for the excellent local charity Headway Sheffield. If you're wondering what has brought me together with a Hexham Conservative or, even better, if you'd like to sponsor me see my Just Giving page here.

Start The Week - Monday 16th July

The big news for Sheffield over the weekend, the electrification of the Midland Main Line, will be a big issue in Parliament today too. The Transport Secretary will be making a statement to the House of Commons on the issue and I'll be there to ask questions on the detail. The decision is a victory for communities all along the route that have been campaigning for the investment, but I want to be sure that it will deliver all the improvements we need. It's an issue I've spoken on in Parliament previously; electrically powered trains are cheaper and cleaner, but without track improvements will not deliver faster journey times and the associated economic benefits.

Tomorrow the Business Select Committee, of which I'm a member, will be quizzing Business Secretary Vince Cable on Bank Lending and Business Growth. It's an issue which is of huge concern to local business, and I've consulted locally before our hearing so that I can put the concerns of Sheffield businesses directly to the Secretary of State. I've had some valuable points made by the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and the local Federation of Small Businesses, as well as a range of local companies.

I'll be attending the debate on the Health Service today and expressing my concern over the news last week that the Sheffield NHS Walk-In Centre on Broad Lane is charging £25 to patients who seek treatment for whiplash injuries. The issue was reported in the Postcode Gazette; it goes against the basic principle of the NHS, that service should be free at the point of delivery, and I'm taking it up with NHS Sheffield and One Medicare who run the Centre. Housing and land law reform, international student visas and local government are among the subjects for my other meetings this week in Westminster before we break for the summer recess.

Back in Sheffield I'll be meeting with the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, to press for maintenance of the No.4 bus route up Cemetery Road and Psalter Lane. I'll also be catching up on casework and joining an event at the Central United Reformed Church to celebrate the Immigration Minister's decision to give Lemlem Abdu leave to remain in the UK following my meeting with him. I was pleased to be able to play a part in stopping Lemlem's proposed deportation and am looking forward to thanking all those involved in the campaign.

The summer recess gives me time to catch up on local meetings and to visit more activities across the constituency, but before that I'm taking a few day's break for a family holiday in Scarborough ...... where I'm expecting rain!

Monday 9th July - It's not often I get cited in the 'Times of India', but their article yesterday showed the international concern over the Government's changes to the student visa arrangements, which have damaged our ability to recruit overseas students. I've been campaigning on the issue for over a year, working with our two universities and with Universities UK, and trying to build a cross-party approach to the issue. Yesterday I co-wrote an article in the Sunday Times with Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi, making the case to follow our competitors and take students out of the net migration targets. 

Today and tomorrow in Parliament we'll be debating House of Lords reforms. I plan to speak tomorrow in support of reform but outlining my concern about Nick Clegg's deeply flawed proposals. You can see my views here; I'd welcome your comments. I'll be joining Wednesday's debate on Parliamentary sittings too, backing the move to modernise hours and move Private Members Bills from Friday mornings to Tuesday evenings which will give backbench MPs a stronger voice and enable us to engage in these issues without cancelling constituency engagements on Fridays.

I've won this week's raffle (or shuffle as it's called in Parliament) for Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday. There are lots of issues I might raise, but please get in tocuh as I'd like hear what you would like me to ask David Cameron. On Tuesday the Business Select Committee will be discussing the Government's plans for the re-organisation of the Post Office network. Other meetings in Westminster this week cover carbon monoxide awareness, neurological conditions, the Big Lottery, High Speed Rail and an update from the new Chief Constable on policing in South Yorkshire.

You can ask me about any of these issues, or anything else, on a Radio Sheffield phone-in on Friday. I'll be live with Rony Robinson between 11am-12pm, answering his questions and taking calls from listeners so phone in if you've got any questions! You can listen at 88.6FM or online here. I'll also be meeting the newly elected Officers of Sheffield Hallam University Student's Union and discussing how we can work together over the next academic year and, later that day, I'll be catching up with Council Leader Julie Dore and her cabinet on city-wide issues. On Friday evening, I'll be joining Shadow Climate Secretary and fellow South Yorkshire MP Caroline Flint who'll be leading a discussion on 'Jobs and Growth in a Low Carbon Economy' in their excellent 'Cafe Politique' series at the Harland Cafe on John Street. Admission is free, contact 0114 2738553 or info(at)harlandcafe.co.uk for tickets. The event starts at 7pm, and all of the details are here 

On Saturday, I've one of my regular open 'surgeries' and then I'll be meeting constituents in the Wostenholm Road area at a coffee morning (get in touch if you live in the area and would like to join me).

Monday 2nd July - I'm looking forward to welcoming more than forty constituents, who are visiting the House of Commons today. They'll be going on a tour of Parliament, sitting in on Communities and Local Government Questions and joining me for a discussion in one of the Committee Rooms overlooking the Thames. I meet lots of groups and individuals from Sheffield throughout the year, but organised a coach trip at the end of my first year as an MP last June - and it was such a success, it's become an annual event! If you're interested in joining a future trip, visiting some other time, or joining a trip to the European Parliament in the autumn, let me know and I'll send you more information. 

Today, as PPS to our Shadow Secretary of State Hilary Benn, I'll be supporting our Communities and Local Government team in questioning the Government and we'll be particularly focussing on the need to provide more affordable housing to buy and rent. The Business Innovation and Skills Select Committee is meeting twice this week; on Tuesday we'll be taking evidence from UK Trade & Investment and Trade Minister Lord Green on improving economic relations with Brazil, following our recent visit to the country. On Wednesday, we'll again be questioning Universities Minister David Willetts on higher education policy following the Government's decision not to proceed with the long-expected HE Bill.

Apprenticeships and Youth Unemployment is a major theme for my week. On Thursday I'm giving a keynote speech at a national conference on 'The Future of Apprenticeships' organised by the Westminster Employment Forum, and attending meetings organised by All-Party Parliamentary Groups on the role of University Technical Colleges and on Youth Unemployment. Other meetings this week cover the impact of cuts on South Yorkshire Fire Authority, the future of HE with the University Alliance, and Dignity in Dying.

Back home on Thursday, I'll be going to the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry Annual Dinner and then on Friday, I'll be launching the 'Sheffield Gives' campaign organised by Voluntary Action Sheffield which aims to recognise the huge amount of charitable giving that already takes place in the city and to encourage more local giving. Other meetings include one with the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; if you've got questions you'd like me to raise do get in touch. On Saturday, I'll be going along to Community Festivals in Sharrow and Walkley - they're both great events, do come along!

Monday 25th June - After leading a lively discussion on 'Why Politics Matters' at the excellent Broomhill Festival on Saturday, I woke on Sunday morning to hear on the news that David Cameron was demonstrating yet again how out of touch he is. And how he is continuing his assault on young people. After the abolition of Educational Maintenance Allowances, the trebling of University tuition fees, and rising youth unemployment, he is apparently planning to withdraw housing benefit from the under-25s - and in the name of fairness and encouraging people into work! Apart from anything else, he clearly doesn't understand that housing benefit is important to make work pay for low-paid young people.

Higher education, and in particular the Government's changes to international student visas, is top of my agenda this week. It's an issue that I've been working on for the last couple of years, and last June I convened a Westminster Hall debate, in which you can see my speech here. This week, we've a Business Select Committee hearing on the issue and on Thursday I'm hosting a Universities UK breakfast seminar to press the case for students not to be considered as migrants. We have nearly 10,000 international students in Sheffield; they enrich the cultural diversity of our two universities, add to their research and innovation, and add close to £200m to the local economy.  Nationally international students bring in £8billion of export earnings and, if we adopted the same approach as our competitors, we could double that. 

I'm also meeting Immigration Minister Damian Green on Tuesday to press the case for Lemlem Abdu, an Eritrean women whose proposed deportation to Ethiopia has caused outrage (see details here). I blocked the deportation by intervening last week, but only until our meeting. I'll be taking letters from the Bishop of Sheffield and the Archbishop of York to back up my case for her to be allowed to stay in the UK.

Monday 18th June - This morning I'm welcoming the newly elected Officers of the University of Sheffield Students' Union to Westminster. Their new President, Abdi Suleiman, is a local student, from Broomhall, who I've known for a few years, and I'm really looking forward to working with him and his team over the coming year. Both of our great universities are in my constituency and, at last count, 31,800 of their students live here, so I make sure that I keep in touch with their concerns. I meet regularly with both the leaders of our universities, and with their elected student officers.

I'll be raising one of their concerns in Parliament today; the way new Government rules on voting will reduce the number of students who are registered and able to vote. But it's not just students. The Electoral Commission estimated that the Government's proposals for Individual Voter Registration may reduce the number of people able to vote by as much as 30%, and the impact will be in our big urban areas. Linked to the Government's new law for 5-yearly boundary reviews, it will have the effect of reducing the number of MPs elected by urban areas and giving the Tories an inbuilt electoral advantage. I've already spoken twice in Parliament on the issue and accused the Government of gerrymandering and reducing the voice of our cities. See my latest speech here.

Tomorrow the Business Select Committee is reviewing our draft report on the Hargreaves Review of Intellectual Property and meeting the National Audit Office as part of our major inquiry into apprenticeships. The rest of my week at Westminster includes supporting an event organised as part of Carers Week (I'm a 'champion' for Sheffield Carers Centre), meeting with the London Apprenticeship Company to see what lessons their work offers on youth unemployment, supporting the Cancer Campaigning Group's summer event,  meeting to discuss opposition to the new loans and higher fees that will deny access to FE Colleges to many people, and attending a meeting organised by the Council for European Palestinian Relations on the continuing expansion of homes and businesses in the occupied territories in direct contravention of international law. On Wednesday, I'll be welcoming some constituents to Westminster, which I'm always pleased to do. If you're interested in visiting, do get in touch.

Back in Sheffield on Friday I'm looking forward to my visit to Nether Edge Primary School, where I'll be talking to children as part of the 'World of Work' project, meeting their School Council and joining parents at a garden party. I've also one of my regular 'open surgeries' for constituents (look here for more details) and I'm meeting with local Councillors. On Saturday I'll be speaking at the annual meeting of my local Labour Party, along with writer and commentator Owen Jones and my Parliamentary colleague Hilary Benn.  We always welcome supporters who are not members, so if you'd like to come along contact Jim Smith at jim1982smith(at)gmail.com or tweet @sheff_cen_clp. In the afternoon I'm speaking at the Broomhill Festival on why politics matters - it should be a lively discussion; do join me (details are below).

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. 

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. 

Monday 21st May - I'll be in the House today supporting our Communities and Local Government team for the remaining stages of the Local Government Finance Bill, but first I'm serving on a European Committee considering a draft directive of the European Parliament seeking to protect workers who are 'posted' from one EU country to another. I'm also hoping to get time to attend a meeting with colleagues and 'Dignity in Dying' to discuss the next steps following March's debate on assisted suicide.

Tuesday's meeting of the Business Select Committee is taking evidence on Trade and investment in Brazil, following our recent visit, following which I'll be in the House for Deputy Prime Minister's Questions. I've also meetings on apprenticeships, English language teaching and alcohol abuse (please do let me know your views on minimum units pricing), as well as one with TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber on the Queen's Speech.

I'm planning to speak in the debate on the Individual Electoral Registration on Wednesday, because I'm deeply concerned that the Government's plans will effectively exclude many people, and particularly young people, from voting.  I'm also attending meetings on private rented housing, local newspapers and eye health.  On Thursday, I'll be in the House for Business Innovation and Skills Questions and then catching up on work before returning to Sheffield that evening.

On Friday, I'll be at the launch MADE 2012, Sheffield's Entrepreneur Festival, and later I'm holding one of my regular open 'surgeries' for constituents, before going along to the monthly meeting of Sheffield Central Constituency Labour Party that evening. On Saturday, I'm heading back to London, for the Play-Off Finals, hoping it will be fourth time lucky for United!

Monday 14th May - Our Business Select Committee visit to Brazil last week was as valuable as it was busy. In 24 meetings and visits over 5 days in 3 cities, we talked with Brazilian business and political leaders, as well as UK companies operating in this fast-growing economy. We gained a real insight into the opportunities for British trade and investment and will be making recommendations to Government on how to make the most of them.

One overwhelming impression was of a country with a clear vision for its future. Although facing many challenges, Brazil has ambitious plans to invest in its infrastructure and young people as a basis for economic growth. What a contrast with the news from home, where the Queen's Speech showed a Government completely out of touch with ordinary people and no idea of how to delivers growth and jobs.

This week in Parliament, we'll be continuing the debate on the Queen's Speech; let me know what you think of it here. The Business Select Committee is meeting twice this week; to continue our inquiry on apprenticeships and to investigate the plans for the transformation of the Post Office network.  I'll be participating in meetings on developing housing policy and looking at how we can sustain quality assurance in universities in the new market being created by the Government.

I've also a range of individual meetings, including representatives of the Open University, London University of the Arts, University and College Union, Veolia and the Peter Jones Foundation (which runs an Enterprise Academy at Sheffield College) - before returning to Sheffield for the Cutlers Feast on Thursday. On Friday I'm pleased to be launching the Yorkshire Enterprise Club, a new initiative from the Federation of Small Businesses, to support people starting new businesses. I'll also be joining other Sheffield MPs in a meeting with NHS Sheffield and the Chair of the new Clinical Commissioning Group to discuss the local impact of the Government's plans for the NHS.

I'm writing this on Sunday as I set off for Brazil on a Business Select Committee Inquiry into UK trade and investment with the country. Parliament is suspended for the bank holiday and on Tuesday prior to the Queen's Speech, so we're using the break to explore how the UK can build trade and investment with this fast-growing economy. One of the BRIC countries (with Russia, India and China), whose growth present both challenges and opportunities to the UK, Brazil will overtake the UK, France and Italy to become the world's 5th largest economy in the next five years. 

The Brazilian economy is growing at 3% a year and there are great opportunities for the UK and for Sheffield. Areas to grow exports to Brazil include engineering and manufacturing products, and there are growing links with our universities too. 

The Brazilian Ambassador to the UK visited Sheffield in March, with a programme that included Sheffield University's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and Hallam University's main campus. Both universities have been selected to participate in the Brazilian Government's ambitious 'Science Without Borders' programme, which will fund 75,000 Brazilian students to study abroad over the next four years - to address key areas of skills shortages.

We'll not be back in time for the Queen's Speech, outlining the Conservative/Lib Dem Government's plans for the next Parliamentary session, although I'll be back next week to participate in the debate arising from it. I'll be looking to see if the Government address the deep concerns of voters expressed in the massive 'vote of no confidence' in last week's local elections, by reviewing their austerity programme and finally accepting our arguments on the need for a plan for growth. But I'm not confident; let me know what you think after the Speech on Wednesday.

Finally, I was delighted with last week's local election results and congratulations to the new councillors elected in Sheffield Central constituency - Cllr Jayne Dunn in Broomhill, Cllr Nikki Bond in Nether Edge and Cllr Neale Gibson in Walkley. When I stood for Parliament just over 2 years ago there were only 3 Labour Councillors in Sheffield Central, and they all represented one ward. Today there are 11 Labour councillors representing each of our 5 wards. They are an extremely strong team of councillors and I'm looking forward to working with them all.

Monday 30th April - I'm writing this on my way to Westminster; we don't yet know whether David Cameron will agree to Ed Miliband's demand that he make a statement on why he refuses to hold a proper inquiry into Jeremy Hunt's handling of the Murdoch bid for BSkyB. He has a lot to answer and the trail of questions goes all the way to Cameron himself. Last week, when Hunt came to the House himself, he failed to answer my question on a crucial issue - why was his political adviser, and not a senior civil servant, made the key contact for his Department on the issue. See our exchange here.

Back in Sheffield last week I was delighted to be given Honorary Lifetime Membership of Hallam Union for the work I've done with them. The presentation was made at the annual Hallam Union Student Awards night, which highlighted the great contribution students make to the city.

At Hallam Union Student Awards Night with current President Jake Kitchiner, incoming President Helen Francis and City Council Leader Julie Dore.

I'll be in the Chamber this afternoon for Communities and Local Government questions, as PPS to Hilary Benn, supporting our front-bench team. We'll be pressing Eric Pickles and the Government on the impact of localisation of Council Tax Benefit on low-income families, the effect of cuts on fire services, and the need to build affordable houses to meet housing need and stimulate the economy. 

Later today there's a debate on Government plans to suspend Sunday trading restrictions for the Olympics. I recognise the need to make a change to maximise the trade from all those tourists who'll be in London for the Olympics, but am not convinced we need to lift the laws for the whole country. Also, I wouldn't want to see this as a 'foot in the door' for long-term change, so I won't be supporting the proposals. What do you think? Get in touch to let me know.

Parliament is adjourned from Tuesday until next week's State Opening of Parliament and the Queen's Speech, which will set out Government plans for the next session. I'll be heading back to Sheffield to get out and about meeting constituents. And I'll be campaigning for Thursday's local elections, for which I've already cast my vote by post. 

I've also voted against creating an Executive Mayor. I think it was wrong for the Government to force us to have this referendum, at a cost of £168,000 (which could have been spent on more important things), and I think it's a distraction from the real issues facing the city. I also think it's a further step towards the 'celebritisation' of politics, which should be about policies and not personalities. This Government are obsessed with costly organisational change (as with the NHS) and there is no evidence that a US-style 'mayoral' system would offer any advantages. What do you think?

Monday 23rd April - Unusually this week, I'll not be going to Westminster until Tuesday, as I'm welcoming the National Union of Students (NUS) to Sheffield. I'll be opening their Annual Conference, which is being held in the city for the first time. I'm delighted that they're holding it at the City Hall; as Chair of Sheffield City Trust I led the team that refurbished the City Hall with the aim of winning big events like this to bring money to the city. 

Hosting NUS Conference also reminds us how Sheffield has become a major 'student city'. Our two universities have grown considerably in recent years, with huge investment in both campuses. There are over 55,000 students at both universities- around one in ten of the people living in the city! Our universities bring millions into the city and thousands of jobs depend on them. And they will play a major part in our future. Combining their research and innovation with our traditional industrial skill and expertise will secure new investment and sustainable jobs - that's why I'm delighted to back the University of Sheffield's exciting new plans to become the leading engineering faculty in the UK 

I'll be heading down to Parliament on Tuesday afternoon, where I'll be attending meetings on House of Lords reform and High Speed Rail, and going along to a meeting of the Unite Parliamentary Group of which I'm a member. I'll also be in the Chamber for the debate on the National Planning Policy Framework. On Wednesday I'll be at the Annual General Meeting of the All-Party Group on Motor Neurone Disease, of which I'm Vice-Chair, and I'll then be supporting an event to promote Carers Week. I've also a meeting with Universities UK to discuss the impact of Government changes to international student visas, on which I organised a Westminster Hall debate last year.

The Business Select Committee will be continuing our inquiry on apprenticeships on Thursday and I'll then be heading back to Sheffield, to welcome Shadow Justice Secretary Sadiq Khan who'll be joining me on a visit to Sharrow CAB and meeting constituents around Sharrow. On Friday I'll be remembering my good friend and great Sheffield Council Leader Jan Wilson, at the unveiling of a plaque for her in the Winter Gardens. Later I'm holding one of my regular open access surgeries and then speaking at a meeting I've arranged on recognition of Somaliland. On Saturday, I'll be out meeting constituents in Walkley and then heading to Bramall Lane for our crucial last home game of the season!

Monday 16th April - Parliament is back this week after a two-week Easter recess.  As well as taking a few days break, I used the opportunity to knock on doors to meet constituents in Nether Edge, Central and Broomhill wards, and to catch up on the great work going on in the city. Among other things, I went to find out more about the ground-breaking research to develop new disease treatment being carried out at the University of Sheffield's Medical Research Council MRC Centre for Developmental and Biomedical Genetics, and met with the team at Sheffield Mental Health CAB. I was also pleased to speak at a well-attended public meeting organised by Sheffield for Democracy on greater transparency in political lobbying (see here for more information on the campaign).

I'll be in the Chamber when business starts this afternoon, to question Education Secretary Michael Gove on the Government's failure to support young people not in education employment or training. Later today, and through much of the week, the Commons will be debating the Finance Bill arising from George Osborne's calamitous Budget. I spoke before the recess (see my comments here) on the regressive nature of the changes to personal allowances, which have been championed by the Lib Dems.  

At the end of business tonight, there'll be an adjournment debate on the electrification of the Midland Mainline, connecting Sheffield and London. I'll be there to support the importance of investing in this rail route, and I'll be making the point that we need to improve the track, as well as electrify the line, if we're to achieve real improvements to journey times.

We've a full week on the Business Select Committee, questioning the Minister responsible for apprenticeships on Tuesday and visiting the Olympic Park on Wednesday. I'll be speaking on student finance, and particularly postgraduate funding, at a lobby organised by the National Union of Students on Wednesday, and tomorrow I'll be at a meeting that we've organised through the All-Party Group for Universities on the future of University research.

I spend a lot of time trying to make politics more accessible to people and, back in Sheffield on Friday, I'm speaking at an event organised by the Parliamentary Outreach Service for voluntary and community groups. I'm then going on to speak at a rally at 1pm at the Town Hall, organised by the GMB, Unite and Community, supporting disabled workers who will lose their jobs due to the closure of Remploy factories - do come along and support the protest.  On Saturday and Sunday, I'll be out knocking on doors and meeting constituents in Broomhill and Highfields. On Sunday, I'll also be keeping an eye on the Presidential election in France, where Socialist candidate Francoise Hollande is gaining support for his policies challenging the austerity programme of Europe's right-wing governments.

Start The Week - Monday 26th March - It's a short week at Westminster as the Easter recess starts on Wednesday. Today, I hope to speak in the final day of the debate on last week's 'millionaires budget' and, if I am called to speak, will be focussing on the decision to abolish the 50p rate of tax on earnings over £150,000. I'll also be challenging Lib Dem claims that lifting the tax threshold is a progressive measure to help those most in need; in fact it offers the same cash benefit to someone earning £10,000 or £100,000 and is paid for by the cuts in tax credits for some of the poorest. And I want to make the case for universal child benefit, in the face of the Government's plans. But I'm keen to know what you think about the budget; so tell me your views here. If I'm able to take a break from the Chamber, I'll be going to an event organised by the  Yorkshire Post to promote their 'Fair Deal for Yorkshire' and 'Yorkshire Vision' initiatives. 

On Tuesday, the Business Innovation and Skills Committee will be continuing our inquiry on apprenticeships, questioning a ranger of training providers and companies including Microsoft and Morrison's. In the afternoon I will be speaking on a Backbench motion that "That this House welcomes the Director of Public Prosecution's Policy to Prosecutors in Respect of Cases of Encouraging or Assisting Suicide, published in February 2010". It's a difficult issue on which I've been lobbied by a number of constituents; I feel strongly that we should give people with terminal illnesses the right to end their lives in order to avoid painful and degrading deaths, subject to appropriate safeguards.

The recess gives me more time to get out and about in Sheffield. On Friday I'm looking forward to joining the 25th anniversary celebrations of MaTReC, the Manor Training & Resource Centre, an adult education centre that has helped local people gain more than 10,000 qualifications. Together with representatives of Sheffield University Students' Union Women's Committee and Unite, I'll be presenting a cheque to Sheffield Water Aid for the money we raised at our recent International Women's Day event. The recess will also give me the chance to get along to my first mid-week game this season, as United take on Chesterfield to regain 2nd place in the table, and I'll be taking a few days break.

Monday 19th March - On my way down to Westminster today, I'm stopping off in Leicester to visit De Montfort University. We've two leading universities in my constituency but, as Secretary of the All Party Parliamentary University Group, it's useful to keep in touch with developments elsewhere. Once in London, I've a number of meetings, finishing tonight with one on the next round of European Union structural funds. South Yorkshire has benefitted hugely from EU funding and I'm keen to see what opportunities there are in the next round of funding.

I'll also be talking to Radio Sheffield later today about Government plans to cut public sector pay in Sheffield and other 'poorer regions'. I was outraged when I heard the plans, announced by Tory Chancellor George Osborne and backed by Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable on Saturday (see my comments below). The plans are to be formally announced on Wednesday in the Budget, which will dominate the political agenda this week. Despite all his talk over the weekend, it's clear that it will do little to help those hardest hit affected by the financial squeeze.

On Tuesday I'll be attending a Heritage Lottery Fund event to mark 10 years of their 'Young Roots' programme which has awarded over £215,000 to nine projects in Sheffield Central giving young people the chance to connect with their heritage. I'll also be going to a meeting of the All Party Group on Apprenticeships, of which I'm a member, to discuss University Technical Colleges (one will be opening in Sheffield) and pre-apprentice training. Later I'll be at a meeting of Labour Friends of Palestine to hear about the impact of the illegal occupation and blockade on young people. 

I was out campaigning in Broomhill over the weekend on the Health and Social Care Bill, which reaches its latest stages in the Commons on Tuesday. I'm disappointed that, despite all their bluster, Lib Dem peers dropped their opposition to the Bill and have fallen in behind Tory plans to privatise the NHS. On Thursday I'm meeting former Sheffield University Pro Vice-Chancellor Tony Crook who is now Chair of the Campaign for Social Science, before heading back to Sheffield to open up a new cricket club which some of my constituents have helped to set up. 

I'm looking forward to meeting Y12 politics students at King Edward VII School on Friday, when I'll also be meeting with Council Leader Julie Dore to discuss support for the local Somali community, holding one of my regular open surgeries, meeting with local Councillors and reporting to my monthly Constituency Labour Party meeting. On Saturday I'll be meeting Abbeydale Road traders, visiting a constituent to discuss a problem with care costs, and holding a 'Meet Your MP' event at St.Peter's Hall/Common Ground on Machon Bank - all are welcome and I'd be glad to see you there. On Sunday, I'll be attending the Legal Service at the Cathedral and going on to the High Sherriff's Lunch.

Monday 12th March - As soon as I arrive in Westminster this lunchtime, I'll be going to an event organised by SET for Britain to support early-career research scientists, engineers and technologists and to promote their research and its importance to the UK - at which one of my constituents will be presenting her work in biological and biomedical science. Then it's on to Communities and Local Government Questions, to support Hilary Benn and our CLG team in putting Eric Pickles on the spot. I've then a meeting requested by a constituent on changes to fees paid to authors, followed by a European Committee meeting to consider an EU draft regulation on commercial policy.

Theres quite a lot this week on higher education. Tonight, I'll be attending the launch of Universities for Labour, which has been set up to promote discussion on current issues and future policy between those working in universities and our HE team, following which the Vice-Chancellors of both Sheffield's Universities will be briefing regional MPs. On Tuesday, I've a meeting of the All-Party Universities Group, of which I'm Secretary, at which we'll be discussing the impact of student finance changes. 

On Tuesday I'll be in Northampton with the Business Select Committee, continuing our Inquiry on Apprenticeships. Unfortunately this means that I'll miss the debate on the Health and Social Care Bill, on which I've spoken in the Commons before, but I'll be there to vote against the Bill. I hope that Liberal Democrat MPs will join us in the lobbies, following the concern expressed by their conference at the weekend - but Nick Clegg will be doing all he can to back the Bill. Later in the week, I'll be meeting with regional representatives of the Royal College of Nursing, attending a Royal College of Physicians event, and also campaigning with Broomhill Labour Party against the Bill - you can add your opposition here.

I've submitted a question on the failure of the Government to protect small pubs by regulating the big pub companies, despite a recent Business Select Committee report and a decision of the House of Commons. I don't know if it's been selected yet, but I'll be in BIS questions on Thursday to press the point. I'll also be attending an event to mark the 60th anniversary of the Refugee Council before returning home to Sheffield. 

Back in Sheffield over Friday and Saturday, I'll be meeting with the city-wide debt advisors group to talk about the recent Select Committee Report on High-Cost Credit and Debt Management, launching an initiative by Voluntary Action Sheffield to promote volunteering in Manor Castle, meeting Council Officers on non-residential care charges, and speaking on the needs of children with speech and language difficulties at 'Giving Voice', an event organised by the University of Sheffield Human Communication Sciences Department. I'll also be at Bramall Lane, to see if we can follow up on last Saturday's win against Brentford (and hopefully one against Colchester on Tuesday) and maintain our promotion run.

Monday 5th March - This is an unusual week for me, but for the best reasons. I'm not heading down to Westminster until Tuesday, because Westminster's coming to Sheffield! The Business Innovation and Skills Select Committee has just launched a major inquiry into apprenticeships, and I'm pleased that colleagues agreed to my suggestion to take evidence here. It's the first time that the Select Committee has left Westminster for an evidence session in this Parliament, and we've got a lot laid on for them.

On Monday afternoon, we're touring Sheffield Forgemasters, which has a long track record of quality apprenticeships and we'll be meeting some of their current apprentices. In the evening, on behalf of the Committee, I'll be launching the Master Cutler's Challenge 2012 with this year's Master Cutler Pam Liversidge. The challenge is to get local businesses to use their entrepreneurial skills to raise money for a local charity, which this year is Cavendish Cancer Care who do excellent work from their base in the heart of my constituency. We'll then be meeting with local businesses and training providers to talk about apprenticeships over a meal hosted at the Cutlers Hall. 

Our evidence session on Tuesday is being held at the University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), where we'll be quizzing local businessmen and women, as well as local apprentices. As part of the visit, we've involved the Parliamentary Outreach Service in undertaking educational work with local schools and colleges, and students will be coming along to the Select Committee hearing to find out more about our work, and joining members for lunch.

I'll then be rushing off to Westminster to host an event for the University think tank, Million+, to celebrate the first 20 years of modern universities; since the 1992 Further and Higher Education Act which entitled former polytechnics and colleges to apply for university title. We'll be reflecting on the changes to higher education with BIS Secretary Vince Cable, Shadow Secretary Chuka Umunna and NUS President Liam Burns. It will also give me the opportunity to pay tribute to Professor Les Ebdon, who'll be standing down as Chair of Million+ to take up his new role as Director of Fair Access.

On Wednesday, I've been drawn for Prime Ministers Questions. Almost every week, I put my name in for the raffle (or shuffle as it's called in Westminster), but this is only the third time I've won - and I'm looking forward to putting David Cameron on the spot! After PMQs, I'll be meeting with a visiting group of students from King Edward VII School, followed by Journalism students from the University of Sheffield. Then I've a meeting on self-determination for Kashmir, before a rally to defend the NHS, organised by the TUC.

I'm particularly pleased that, in the week that we celebrate International Women's Day, two of the four young engineering apprentices meeting the Select Committee are women, as we've got to break down barriers to careers in engineering. On Thursday, I've organised a free film showing of 'The Help' with Sheffield Students' Union, and with the support of Unite, to mark International Women's Day and raising funds for women's projects run by Water Aid and Practical Action. On Saturday, I'm unveiling a plaque to honour Adela Pankhurst at the house where she lived in Broomhill, and opening a Women's Community Festival organised by Labour supporters in Sharrow.

On Friday, I'm visiting the Northern Refugee Centre, meeting the Chair of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, and joining fellow MPs in a meeting with Sheffield City Council leaders. On Saturday, I've one of my regular open surgeries and, after the Women's Day events, I'll be going to the Crucible for the second play in the Michael Frayn season, Democracy (the first, Copenhagen, last Saturday was tremendous).

Monday 27th February - My week started at 7.25 this morning with an interview on Radio Sheffield about A4e and the Government's Work programme (you can listen here - my interview is 24 mins in). I've asked a number of Parliamentary questions on the issue, but the bigger question is the failure of the Government's Work Programme. At a time when we're facing a youth unemployment crisis, the Tories and Lib Dems scrapped Labour's Future Jobs Fund and are letting down a generation of young people.

Later today I'm catching up with Sheffield Councillor Joan Barton, who's in London to receive a well-deserved lifetime achievement award for her contribution to local government. Our Councillors get too little recognition for the work they do, and they're facing really tough decisions at the moment because of the unfair cuts that are hitting cities like Sheffield far harder than many wealthy southern councils. 

Wednesday is 'transport' day, as I've two separate meetings with Ministers at the Department for Transport over issues that I've been pressing. The first, also involving fellow MPs, the Council, the Passenger Transport Executive and the excellent community group Residents Against Station Closure is seeking a resolution of the longstanding dispute over Sheffield station bridge. The second, for which I've co-ordinated representation from other MPs affected around the country, is over the closure of the DVLA local office network.

With hundreds of emails, letters and phone calls every day I depend on the support from my staff team. Most of them are based in my Sheffield office, but today I'm joined by Andrea Nichols, who's going to be working with me part-time in Westminster. Andrea is from Sheffield, and brings experience as a former Ministerial aide and senior officer with Yorkshire Forward, and she'll be a great addition to the team.

The Business Select Committee is meeting twice this week, to conclude an Inquiry into proposed increases in stamp prices on Tuesday and then again on Thursday to take initial evidence on our major Inquiry on apprenticeships. During the week I'll also be attending meetings on industrial policy and climate change (on how we de-carbonise the economy while achieving industrial growth), University Technical Colleges for 14-19 year olds (linked to the plans for a Sheffield UTC in the heart of my constituency offering places for 600 young people), a Universities UK seminar on the impact of Government immigration policy on our universities. I'll be welcoming a group of student journalists from Sheffield on a visit to Westminster and hosting a National Union of Students commission on union development.

Back in Sheffield on Friday, I'm speaking at a Skills for Justice conference, holding a roundtable discussion with the Sheffield Executive Board on the priorities for our city, visiting the Church Army's national headquarters which moved from Kent to Sheffield last year, and attending a tree-planting event at Manor Lodge in memory of Jan Wilson, who was a close personal friend and outstanding Leader of Sheffield City Council. On Saturday, I'll be knocking on doors and meeting constituents in Sharrow, and then going on to Bramall Lane where I'll be vacating my usual seat to join the Board for a match will hopefully put yesterday's defeat behind us as we press ahead to secure automatic promotion. We're lucky to have two outstanding theatres in Sheffield and on Saturday evening I'll be off to the Lyceum to see Michael Frayn's 'Copenhagen'.

← Older entries

Click here to get in touch with me

I've got a fantastic team of staff. I'd like to introduce them... meet the team

I hold two advice surgeries a month and appointments are available with my staff at other times. Click here for more details or call 0114 272 2882 to book an appointment. 

Click here to find out about Paul Blomfield's work in Parliament and his recent speeches and questions.