A busy week in Parliament started on Monday with a coach tour party from Eastbourne. I love to welcome Eastbournians here. I also got to welcome students from Cavendish School to The Commons and speak virtually to East Sussex College student, Jude, in between votes. It gave a very real-time insight into parliamentary procedure!
Home Office questions were first on the order paper and I ‘bobbed’ to seek an update on the work to close down trafficking gangs misuse of social media platforms to promote the dream of a ticket to another life AKA dangerous and illegal small boat crossings. Every part of traffickers’ operations must be closed down.
I spoke in the 2nd reading of the new Criminal Justice Bill announced in the King’s Speech. I made the case for cuckooing to be added to new offences. It was a shock to me that the hostile takeover of someone’s home to run drugs and facilitate prostitution wasn’t already so designated. We had a very distressing case of cuckooing in Eastbourne, I am sorry to say.
I also met with NHS leaders this week about plans for the winter, always a time of increased pressure for all our services. I got to look closely at how virtual wards operate, an innovation embraced by our own hospital which allows patients to stay in the comfort of their own home while being monitored or treated. I tested out the kit - my blood pressure was perhaps surprising steady.
I am still working to connect every pensioner in Eastbourne with all the support to which they are entitled. We’ve made great gains on this but there are still others I believe going without. I met the Pensions Minister on precisely this on Wednesday.
Coming home, I’m looking forward to meeting Rotarians, engaging with businesses on the Seaside bus corridor plans and hosting my advice surgery. If I possibly can, I’ll be doing a few laps at Eastbourne Park to help Mencap with their fundraising efforts.
And this weekend sees Small Business Saturday. Our local, independent shops give our town so much of its colour and character, let’s get behind them and show some retail love.
