I’m in London a little later than usual this morning, because I’m attending the funeral of an old friend in Sheffield. I’ll be back in Parliament this afternoon at a debate on increasing funding for brain tumour research, before taking part in a debate on educational disadvantage in Yorkshire and Humber – I’ll raise local concerns about how we can tackle the issue, as well as challenge the Government’s forced academisation programme. 

Tomorrow morning starts with a meeting of the Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) Select Committee, where we’ll be discussing our forthcoming inquiry on Access to Finance to support business growth. Then I’m attending a meeting on migration, chaired by former Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, followed by a meeting with EDF Energy over my complaints that Sheffield Forgemasters has not been given the chance to tender for key forgings for the Hinckley Point project.

Also this week, I’m taking part in a roundtable on the EU organised by the Russell Group (of which the University of Sheffield is a member) where we’ll discuss the massive benefits EU membership brings to universities, I’ve a meeting with the Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society in my role as Vice-Chair of the Labour Campaign for Electoral Reform, and I’llbe meeting with the Norwegian Finance Committee as part of my role as member of the BIS Select Committee.

On Thursday, I’ll be in Derby with the BIS Select Committee to meet with small businesses to talk about their experience of exporting and Government support. I’ll also be back in Sheffield for a team meeting with my staff from both my Sheffield and Westminster offices. On Friday, I’ve meetings with constituents, one of my regular advice surgeries and I’ll be at an event organised by Urban Splash, the developers for Park Hill, to talk about their plans for the project. At the weekend I’ll be out canvassing people’s views on the upcoming European Union referendum, as well as taking time out for the Blades derby with Barnsley.