This week was dominated by my role as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department of Work and Pensions. We had debates involving DWP in the Chamber on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, as well as other meetings. I was pleased to continue in this role in DWP. I am now PPS to the Secretary of State, rather than acting as PPS for the Ministers in the department. However, as a team player, I will work with my fellow PPSs to make sure that we are an effective department. DWP has the biggest budget and it supports many people’s lives.
In Parliament, I was able to ask the Secretary of State for Defence about what we are doing to look after those members of the Afghan armed forces and intelligence officers who we have brought over here through Operation Pitting. Some of them will have been trained in western establishments like Sandhurst, and I had an Afghan in my syndicate at the Royal College of Defence Studies. They are highly skilled and qualified so it would be good to use their knowledge and experience to our advantage. You can watch question here.
The news this week has been dominated by the rise in gas prices and fuel delivery issues. The Government is working hard to get more HGV drivers back working. It has streamlined the testing structure to work through the backlog caused by COVID. We also need to bring back HGV drivers who have left the industry. I hope that the end of furlough will encourage more people back into work as we have over a million vacancies.
Next week is conference recess, so I will be working in the constituency visiting GPs, schools and businesses and then heading to the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester. I am speaking at two fringe meetings on education, one with the education union NEU which will be interesting. This continues the work I have been doing on this subject, which is a vital topic as we help our young people move on from Covid and look at the education system we need for the future.
There will not be a newsletter next week, but I hope you keep safe and well and that this pleasant autumn weather continues!
