Last Wednesday saw the third meeting in 3 days with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, this time around infrastructure projects before going to an NHS England briefing and a call in to the Police Federation reception. Thursday, I travelled back home and was able to call in to the Governing Body meeting for Horndale Primary School. I also took a walk around the town centre where I met, amongst others, Simon from Junction 7 who told me Jane was out of sorts, get well soon Jane, you and Simon do fabulous work.

Friday was a business breakfast at South West Durham Training followed by a quick tour, it’s changed a lot since I first visited in 1976! Looks a great place to learn and they are very well connected to local and regional employers. Then it was over to Sedgefield for a surgery. Then, on Saturday, it was down to Middleton St George for a surgery in the morning, happily this also coincided with their monthly food and craft market. Worth a trip to, some great crafts, but I was particularly attracted to scones, sausages and cakes. Samosas for lunch before off to The Big Club to catch up with the “In This Together” team for their coffee morning. What a fabulous initiative they have started.

Monday meant a quick staff meeting with my team, we have just recruited David to help us and we have completed the paperwork for the office so hope for the keys this week. We will be moving into offices upstairs in the town centre. I then caught the train to London and attended a briefing with officials from the National Security Centre around Huawei before the telecoms vote on Tuesday and then a meeting with Liz Truss, Secretary of State for International Trade, where we discussed European Supply Chains and the announcement that the US will now accept British beef.

Tuesday was a wall to wall meeting day, I was in the Conservative offices at 8.00. I then had my first real BEIS select committee meeting, last week was largely formalities but this week we were looking at the Post Office Horizon problems. After lunch a review session on life so far in Westminster before a session on Universal Credit, then a Parish and Town Council drop-in followed by a meeting with the Minister of State for Local Government. In the evening a briefing with the Secretary of State for DEFRA (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs) then a Rotary Polio eradication reception. The down side of such a busy day was I missed two APPG’s on Credit Unions and End of Life Choices, but I will catch up with the chairs of these.

Have a good week

Paul Howell

Member of Parliament for Sedgefield