Tribute Column for last edition of Chase Post

We live in a time when the reputation of some journalists and newspapers is perhaps only marginally higher than MPs. However, even in the deepest fog beacons stand out. In my opinion the Chase Post under the inspired editorship of Mike Lockley was one such beacon. Its loss will be deeply felt by everyone here in Cannock Chase.

Even when publicity is good, bad and indifferent it is important that people have access to quality local news. The Chase Post has certainly provided this and should be commended for the fair and balanced way it has reported local news and the way it has always supported Cannock Chase and the people who live and work here.

This was true when as a Parliamentary Candidate Mike agreed to my suggestion that the paper organise, host and chair Cannock's first ever parliamentary debate with all the main MP candidates. Readers were able to write in with questions and for the first time local people could question all the candidates in a public forum.

Over 300 people attended on the night and asked questions that mattered to them. Many said in the bar afterwards that they had changed their vote on the basis of listening to the candidates' answers. This is politics at its best, and most real.

Since the election, the paper has been very supportive of my efforts to promote Cannock Chase and help get people back into work. I will be forever grateful for the fantastic support and promotion of my recent Jobs Fayres, which were all about helping and supporting local people get new jobs. We also must not forget the papers own job listings which I know have helped many people back into work.

I was also delighted when Mike gave me the opportunity to contribute a weekly column to the paper so that local people could keep informed about what I am doing for them in Westminster and Cannock Chase. I shall miss writing about my 'Week in Westminster' – not least because I know many readers felt it an original insight into the crazy world of the Westminster Village.

I think I speak for all readers in saying that the Chase Post will be sorely missed, and I for one know that my Saturday mornings will never be quite the same without Mike's 'lighter look at life' which I had the privilege of guest writing last Christmas. My best wishes go to Mike and all his professional staff at this difficult time. You have been an inspiration to us all.

Over the last week I have received a number of emails from constituents expressing their anxiety about the ongoing situation at Stafford Hospital A & E Department.

At the time of writing, Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust Board is due to meet on 10th November to make a decision on whether to authorise a temporary overnight closure (10pm to 8am) of the Accident and Emergency Department in order to deal with staffing shortages.

It is fair to say that the people of Cannock Chase deserve better healthcare than they have received over recent years. I am pleased to see that there have been big improvements at the Trust in the past year with one measure making it the best performing Trust in the West Midlands.

Whilst I accept the staffing problems the Trust have encountered, people here in Cannock Chase have already seen the removal of services from Cannock Hospital in recent years. I believe that closing the Accident and Emergency Department at Stafford Hospital, even for a temporary period, is a step too far and have made clear in an open letter to the Trust that they should delay any decision and instead continue to work together with the Department of Health and other relevant bodies to find an alternative solution.

The safety of local people in Cannock Chase is paramount in my role as your MP and it is my job to ensure that nothing is done to put your safety at risk. However, a closure would mean that some of you would have to make a 20 mile and 45 minute journey in order to find emergency healthcare. Ambulance services would be affected in the same way, more than doubling the time they take to get a person to hospital. A closure, I believe, would only serve to further damage the reputation at the Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust at a time when it should be doing all it can to rebuild trust with the local community.

We owe it to the local community to find a resolution to this problem without closing such a vital service, one that is literally a matter of life or death for my constituents.

Social housing is one of the main issues that local people come to my Help Zone and surgeries to talk to me about.

We all know that there is a chronic shortage of affordable housing in both Cannock Chase and the country as a whole.

One of the reasons for this is because too few houses have been built under governments of all colours, over a number of decades.

But there are a number of other reasons the social housing system is clogged up.

This week I got the opportunity to question the Housing Minister directly about one of these problems.

I find it scandalous that there are currently an estimated 6000 people in the UK living in council houses and paying subsidised rent, despite earning more than £100,000 a year. That's more than four times the average salary of local people here in Cannock Chase.

This strikes me as deeply unfair especially at a time where in Cannock Chase alone last week there were over 2,300 people listed on the Housing register, with 164 of these marked in Band 1 or 1 Plus - which is defined as those people who are either homeless or in the most serious housing need.

In response to my question the Housing Minister said he would take action to address this anomaly. In future he would ensure that people living in subsidised houses with a household income of more than £100,000 are either asked to leave or made to pay full market rate for their properties.

More importantly, I was pleased that the Minster made clear in his response that every penny of the money raised by this "Pay to Stay" scheme will go toward building more affordable housing for the most vulnerable people in our society.

Whist I accept that this alone will not solve our housing crisis, it is only right that our Government acts to deal with this small, but significant social injustice.

As a backbench MP, one of the ways you can raise an issue in the House is applying for an Adjournment Debate. An adjournment debate is simply a way in the Commons of having a general debate without requiring the House to vote.

It is a very powerful way of raising an issue because the debate is held in the Chamber, after the main business of the day has finished. There is a half-hour adjournment debate at the end of each day's sitting. MPs must apply to the Speakers Office and subject matters are varied. MPs are selected by ballot.

This week, I was lucky enough to be selected for an adjournment debate at 7pm on Wednesday. My topic was "Funding from the public purse of trade union officials."

It may surprise readers to know that there were 2,493 full time equivalent public sector employees working for trade unions at the taxpayers' expense in 2009-10.

More than £68 million of public money (taxpayers money to you and me) is spent a year on paying for public sector workers to carry out trade union jobs.

What I don't understand is why the tax payer is paying their salaries, and not the Unions, from their subs.

After all, if the unions can afford to pay 38 of their leaders six-figure salaries (Bob Crow, head of the RMT, now earns £145,000) and donate £13 million to the Labour Party last year, why is the taxpayer subsidising their activities across the public sector?

This of course comes at a time when national strikes over public sector cuts are looming. So the unions planning those strikes are effectively being bankrolled by the taxpayer.

Few would take issue with the unions working on behalf of their members in government departments and other public bodies - in their own time, or with union funding. But why are the public subsidising it?

My adjournment debate was an excellent opportunity to call for the end to this practice.

Last week we saw Parliament drag itself into the 21st Century when MPs rejected an amendment that would have banned us from accessing email, the internet and social media sites such as Twitter on our mobile devices in the Chamber. Parliament also used the opportunity to formally adopt a motion to allow the use of some silent electronic devices in the chamber which had previously only been tolerated informally (e.g. iPads)

For many people, their mobile devices are invaluable, enabling them to communicate instantly with friends and family. The same is true for MPs. Our Blackberrys and iPhones enable us to deal with constituency correspondence and respond to the people we represent in a timely and professional fashion.

Some colleagues had argued that by allowing the use of hand held electronic devices in the Chamber, we would somehow be bringing it into "disrepute". Whilst I fully recognise and appreciate the traditions of the House of Commons, I do not believe that banning the use of such devices is realistic in this digital age. Indeed, up until last week, the UK was one of only two countries in Europe who had banned MPs from tweeting during proceedings.

At present, MPs can use their phones in the Chamber, to text and check email. But technology moves on a pace – and how could the Sergeant at Arms discern whether an MP was checking an email or BBC News or Facebook, whilst a debate was in progress? When does a larger iPhone become and iPad? Is a HTC Evo or a Palm Pilot a phone or a PC?

Given the pace of technological change, far better that we adapt and adopt – whilst at all times respecting the Chamber for what it is, the debating cockpit of the nation. So whilst MPs can use their new devices, they cannot do it in a "disruptive" way, or use them to read speeches from. For me, this struck a sensible compromise between tradition and modernity.

Parliament returned this week after the traditional Party Conference season. There has been much debate as to whether such events are still necessary, but I for one welcome the opportunity three weeks away from Westminster brings to spend more time in the constituency.

My main focus during this recent recess was to organise and host Cannock Chase's first ever Jobs Fayres - one in Cannock, and one in Rugeley. Over 600 local people attended and over 360 CVs were handed out – which was great considering these were the first of their kind in the constituency.

When organising them, I felt that if we could help just one person find employment, then all the work would be worthwhile. So you can imagine my delight when Bluebird Care got in touch last week saying that they have already employed people as a direct result of meeting them at the Jobs Fayres – and are going on to interview even more. I hope this is just the beginning and that many more companies will follow suit.

In the last couple of weeks I have also had the privilege of visiting Cannock Chase High and the new Staffordshire University Academy, the latter of which will shortly be receiving £9.7 million of Government investment for improvements. Both schools should be very proud of what they have achieved over the last few years and I firmly believe that with the new freedoms that come with academy status, they will continue to go from strength to strength.

I completed my time in the constituency last week by hosting a very useful meeting with key stakeholders on the main issues affecting the Chase Line rail service, which I know is vital to many of my constituents. Among issues discussed included the proposed timetable changes by London Midland as well as potential future plans for electrification and line speed upgrades. It is vital that we have regular, fast services from Rugeley to Birmingham.

The atmosphere in the House this week has been surreal – unlike anything else I have experienced since becoming an MP.

The publication of the initial plans outlining the constituency boundaries for the next General Election has affected over three-quarters of sitting MPs.

As a result of the Parliamentary Voting and Constituencies Act, which recently passed through Parliament, the number of MPs at the next election will be reduced from 650 to 600, with each constituency required to have no fewer than 72,810 constituents. This will reduce the cost of Parliament by over £12 million a year and equal up the size of constituencies.

Some seats will disappear, and others divided out to neighbouring constituencies.

The independence of the Boundary Commission is shown by the fact that even the big beasts from across the political divide, such as George Osborne and Hilary Benn, have not been immune from change. The proposals have affected all three parties, with winners and losers on both sides of the House, representing seats right across the county.

So it was with great trepidation and excitement, reminiscent of queuing for exam results, that I left my office to go and collect the package containing the proposals for the West Midlands. The West Midlands is now to have 54 constituencies instead of the current 59.

I joined the back of the queue of MPs and staff snaking around Portcullis House, watching everyone come out with the A3 envelopes before manically tapping away on their phones communicating the results to others.

As it turned out, Cannock Chase was one of the seats that remained completely unchanged, as it already met the required quota given by the Boundary Commission to England.

This is democracy in action, and you can have your say by visiting the Boundary Commission website at www.consultation.boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk

Parliament has returned for two weeks, so arriving in Westminster after a summer in Cannock was a bit like going back to school for the first time after the summer holidays. I fought off the desire to buy a new pencil case, however part of me still had that same excitement – the old school building alive with the hustle and bustle of friends and colleagues again, a new term, new challenges and opportunities.

There are some serious issues being debated in this short fortnight; Libya, abortion, NHS reforms, terrorism. The abortion proposal in particular has generated a lot of media attention, although at the time of writing it is still not clear whether Mr Speaker will even call Nadine Dorries amendment to the Health and Social Care Bill – such are the ways of Westminster. My own view is that anything that reduces the abortion rate, which last year amounted to more than 200,000 terminations in England and Wales, should be seriously considered and debated.

Back in the constituency, I am still working hard with the team to organise our areas first ever Jobs Fayres – my attempt to put employers with jobs and local people together. The Cannock Jobs Fayre will be held on Friday 23rd September at the Cannock Campus of South Staffordshire College (The Green, Cannock, Staffs, WS11 1UE) and will be open to all local people (for free) from 10am-4pm.

The Rugeley Jobs Fayre will be held one week later on Friday 30th September at the Rugeley Rose Theatre, Taylors Lane, Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 2AA and will also be open to all local people for free from 10am-4pm.

Employers who have already confirmed include Amazon, Tesco, The Army, NHS, Natwest, Finning CAT, Staffordshire Police and JCB. If you are looking for work, or know someone who is, then please do come along – this could be your opportunity to get that dream job!

The last couple of weeks have been dominated by the shocking allegations of wide spread phone hacking at the News of the World. This whole episode has shown Parliament at its best. Following Westminster's outrage, News Corp withdrew their bid for BSkyB. As we politicians represent the views of the public who elect us, I feel it is crucial that MPs can still influence such decisions. This was a victory for the people who decided that such a takeover in this situation would be wrong.

What happened at the News of the World was not only appalling and disgraceful but illegal. The very idea of a murder or terrorism victim having their voicemails listened to, and then deleted, giving their concerned families false hope that they were still alive, is simply disgusting. That is why I am pleased that the Prime Minister has announced plans for an Independent and Judge-led public inquiry into these matters.

I believe there are three principal issues which must be addressed by this inquiry. Firstly, the original police investigation and why it didn't go far enough. Secondly, the acceptance of cash payments by police officers from journalists in exchange for details of arrests and investigations. Thirdly, the relationship between politicians and the media.

David Cameron was right to say that leaders of all parties have been too close to the press and politicians must be transparent in their actions. For this reason, I am delighted to note that all meetings between Ministers and newspaper and other media proprietors, senior editors and executives will now be recorded.

And Ed Miliband was right to raise the issue of the size of the Murdoch Empire, and whether it is too big and powerful. However, when 70% of people get their news from the TV, and 73% of those people watch BBC News, perhaps the power and size of the BBC needs to be investigated as much as Sky.

Most people think that arranging meetings is a cinch – you pick up the telephone and there it is, done. If only it were that easy. Most official bodies have gatekeepers and firewalls that computer security experts could only dream of. Let's take, for example, the Panel looking into the future of our forests.

You can imagine that when the panel announced they were not planning to visit Cannock Chase in its latest round of visits, I was not best pleased, to say the least. My team immediately sprung into action and got in touch with the Panel. After several emails, voicemail messages and meeting requests, we finally, after a series of negotiations, were able to arrange a meeting in Westminster with the Deputy Head of the Secretariat. I am pleased to finally get the opportunity to represent the views of local people on the future of our great forest. During the meeting I will certainly be urging the Panel to look again at adding the Chase to its list of visits so that they can experience its beauty first hand.

On a different note, last Monday I attended the 'Every Disabled Child Matters: Breaking down barriers, making work pay for families of disabled children' reception hosted by my coalition colleague, Stephen Lloyd MP. In partnership with Family Fund, EDCM have produced an excellent report which examines some of the difficulties facing parents of disabled children trying to get into work. The report found that despite almost all parents of disabled children wanting a career, only a third are in employment.

During the reception we heard from a mother of a disabled child describing some of the challenges she faces juggling work and looking after her disabled son. One particular remark she made that resonated with the group was that "disability needs flexibility". I am sure that is a sentiment every parent would endorse whatever their own position might be.

"Surreal" is the best way to describe my Week in Westminster last week.

It all started when I met up with Staffordshire County Councillor Pat Corfield and Tourism Minister John Penrose MP to discuss and promote "Staffordshire Hoard on Tour" which began at the Shire Hall Gallery in Stafford on Saturday.

How can anyone forget the news in 2009 of the extraordinary hoard found by a metal detectorist on arable land in Hammerwich Parish, just a few miles from the Cathedral city of Lichfield. It was later recovered by archaeologists from Staffordshire County Council and Birmingham Archaeology. Following an intense campaign, enough money was raised to keep the hoard in the West Midlands Region providing a great boost for the local economy - and putting Staffordshire firmly on the map, not just in the UK but around the world.

Accompanying Councillor Corfield down to Westminster was a very friendly but scary looking Anglo-Saxon Warrior whose entry into the Parliamentary estate could best be described as problematic. The security guards on duty were somewhat surprised when, on enquiring if he had any sharp objects, he drew out a replica metre long sword!

He was also wearing full warrior uniform, including scabbard, tunic and helmet, and at over 6 ft tall it is fair to say he stood out from the usual crowd of politicians and tourists.

Later in the week I was delighted to welcome a group of students from Fair Oak Business and Enterprise College in Rugeley who had come down to Westminster in preparation for their study of AS level Government and Politics in September. Whilst they did not bring any swords, their questioning was very sharp and I was impressed by how motivated and enthusiastic they were. However, I was a little surprised that nearly all of them wanted to become lawyers – I think I'd rather they became Anglo-Saxon Warriors!

There is nothing more nerve-racking than seeing the Speaker look towards you during Prime Minister's Questions, indicating you are about to be called.

You can only try to hold your excitement in, go over your question in your mind and when the moment comes, just hope all the words come out in the right order!

Usually, in order to get the opportunity to ask the Prime Minister or Government Ministers a question, MPs have to put their names into a ballot. Names are then drawn at random, determining who may ask the questions and in what order.

However, having put my name forward in every ballot for Prime Minister's Questions since last May, and never being selected, I was beginning to think my time would never come. However, there is always the chance of 'catching the speaker's eye' and asking a question at random.

So I have started bobbing up and down purposefully at PMQs hoping that Mr Speaker can ignore me no longer. In fact, so successful has been my new approach, I have now got called to question the Prime Minister twice in four weeks!

Last week I asked David Cameron about welfare reform, which I know from speaking to local people is an area they want this Government to address. I was therefore delighted to get an assurance from the Prime Minister therefore that the Government would re-double its efforts to reform our welfare system, currently costing £190 billion per year (Defence is just £35 billion). Whilst we should always support those who genuinely need help, people who can work, should work. And the money saved can go to those truly in need. People should never be abandoned to a life on benefits and work should always pay. A job is about more than money; it's about self esteem, personal pride and meeting new people too.

Anyone can catch your eye, but it takes someone special to catch your heart. That's why last week was a very special Week in Westminster – because it was the week I got engaged.

My long term girlfriend, Helen Boyle, thought she was coming in to the House on Tuesday evening to celebrate her 32nd birthday. I had managed down her expectations, telling her that there was a late vote on and I couldn't leave until 11pm. 'We can have some supper in the canteen' I told her, not exactly to great delight!

However, I had other plans, and after greeting her with flowers and presents on what was a beautifully sunny warm day, I told her I had a special surprise – a trip to the roof of the Palace of Westminster.

After climbing a little known spiral staircase, we scaled the dizzy heights out onto the roof – and enjoyed wonderful views across the capital's magnificent skyline, including Westminster Bridge and the London Eye. I then pulled out a bottle of champagne and two glasses, which I had carefully hidden amid the neo-gothic spires.

Having taken in both the view and a few sips of fizzy Dutch courage, I went down on one knee and popped the question. After a few giggles and, dear reader, it must be said a few tears from your MP, she said 'yes' – at which point Big Ben chimed 6.45pm.

It was a very special moment for us both. We spent an hour chatting and calling family and friends, before going out for a rather better meal than she was expecting.

The wedding is already being planned for next summer – in Helen's home village in Herefordshire. I am looking forward to that day immensely, if not exactly all the planning and preparation which friends tell me goes into it!

Thanks to everyone who has sent in such kind emails and messages. We are truly grateful to you all.

Westminster resumed last week, but not before I had the joy of attending the Rugeley Charter Fair for the second year running. It was difficult judging all the floats on show because the quality was so high and the costumes so varied – from Admiral Nelson and the Red Arrows to Dad's Army and Colonel Mustard!

It was wonderful to see such commitment to good causes from local people, and the turnout was incredible – even bigger than last year. It was also inspiring hearing stories from local people who were raising money for so many worthwhile causes.

One such story that springs to mind was that of a young lady who had got together with a few of her friends to wash cars for MacMillan Cancer Research after her father had recently been diagnosed with the disease. Rather than get down about such news, instead she got her friends together and set about raising funds to help combat the disease. That is the way these problems will be tackled – by positive people with a 'can-do' attitude. She is a tribute to our area and an inspiration to all young people.

So I pay tribute to everyone involved in the organisation of the Charter Fair and to all those who took part. It shows the very best of Cannock Chase and makes me immensely proud to be the local MP.

Upon returning to Westminster I had the privilege of meeting with a local constituent who had come down as part of the 'Tea time for Change' event organised by charities such as Oxfam and Action Aid.

The national lobby called on the government to increase efforts to combat global poverty. Rather like those in the Charter Fair raising money for people less fortunate than ourselves, I am proud to be part of a government that has put tackling poverty at the heart of its thinking. Despite the difficult economic situation we find ourselves in, we should never balance the books on the backs of the poor.

Israel may seem far removed from us here, but the Holy Land has been at the root of many of the major conflicts that this country has fought over the last 40 years. As such, it has touched families in Cannock Chase and across Staffordshire. My trip to Israel last week (privately funded at no cost to the taxpayer) was designed to help me and other MPs understand the tensions and difficulties that stand in the path of peace.

During our five day trip we went on a northern border tour, seeing the border between Israel and Lebanon, the Golan Heights and Syria, as well as Kerem Shalom, the aid crossing point to the troubled Gaza region. We visited the town of Sderot, which has been the target of Hamas rocket attacks, and even held real rockets which had landed in the back yard of the local police station.

Later in the week we met with Knesset members (the equivalent of MPs) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as Palestinian Businessmen and politicians, and even had dinner with the British Ambassador in Tel Aviv. Finally we got to visit the old City of Jerusalem, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the famous 'Wailing Wall', at the foot of the Temple Mount.

Most movingly of all we visited Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust memorial museum, which was an emotional and heartrending experience seeing the exhibits and hearing the stories of the Jews during the Second World War.

Seeing such ancient sites, which have been a destination for pilgrims and prayer for centuries, as well as understanding the modern political challenges stemming from the 1948 and 1967 wars, often led me to have more questions than answers. But it reminded me of the deep history of this troubled region, and how important it is for our generation of politicians to try and end the fighting through a "Two State" solution.

It's not every day you get to meet the most powerful man in the world, but along with my colleagues from the House of Commons and Lords we got the opportunity to see the President of the United States speak in Westminster Hall as part of his visit to Britain. Obama is the first US President ever to be given the honour.

The whole of Westminster had been a hive of activity during the visit as the President's huge bomb-proof car, nicknamed 'The Beast', went back and forth from Buckingham Palace to Downing Street and Westminster Abbey. I have never seen such tight security around Parliament than in the last few days. So much so that I even had my bike removed and the lock hacked off with bolt cutters from outside Westminster Hall. Although I got my bike back, I still had to pay £10 for a new lock!

Obama entered Westminster Hall to a fanfare more reminiscent of films about Tudor Kings rather than a US President, and starting with a good joke, the Grandson of a Kenyan cook in the British Army delivered a speech largely focused on our shared democratic values and ideals. It seemed ironic that it should take a US President to explain to us what this country has achieved and that we should be proud of our legacy to the world.

He received a deserved standing ovation and I even managed to get a handshake as he exited the Hall. He and his huge motorcade then went back to Buckingham Palace before heading to France with David Cameron for the G8 summit.

I instead went to the Aquarius Ball Room in Hednesford to serve drinks and welcome people on the door for its last weekend. It too was a hive of activity and a repository of local history. Though sadly only my dancing could be described as 'The Beast'!

Last week I hosted my first ever 'Westminster Hall debate' on the subject of the cost of policing of Premiership football matches.

For those not familiar with the intricate workings of Parliament, Westminster Hall is a smaller separate debating chamber located inside the historic 11th century Westminster Hall. These debates carry the same weight as any those in the main Chamber and enables backbenches to scrutinise the government on topics important to them and their constituents. A Government Minister has to reply to the debate.

I chose my topic because at present, Premiership football clubs only pay for the policing costs inside and immediately outside their grounds. However, the police, and therefore the taxpayer, are still losing out to the tune of millions of pounds a year due to the consequential costs of policing away from the grounds on a match day. This includes the extra police we all see at the train stations, town centres, pubs and clubs and other public areas.

I do not see how it is fair that taxpayers are footing this extra bill, which in the 2009/10 season was estimated at £722,232 – for the West Midlands alone. Nationwide, the shortfall is estimated to be over £25m, a sum easily affordable by Premiership Clubs who pay their players up to £10 million a year in wages. Why should the tax payer continue to subsidise this very wealthy industry?

On Friday I welcomed Government Whip Rt. Hon. Mark Francois MP to Briggs International in Cannock as part of its 'Freaky Friday' charity day. His visit delivered on a promise made during the election, namely to visit them again if I became their new MP. The staff were clearly impressed by a politician who kept his word – and in the process we helped raise money for Dogs for the Disabled. Mark even drove a forklift truck – a new experience for the Vice Chamberlain of HM Household!

Last week is best described as 'a House of Commons week'.

It started with me questioning the Policing Minister about the 'democratic deficit' in policing, which means that at present only 7% of the public know who to contact if they have a complaint.

Do you know who it is? The answer is your Police Authority. But does anyone actually know how to contact them? Or who to contact?

I have long time campaigned for greater transparency and accountability in police forces, and am strong supporter of directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners – coming next May. They will provide the public with a single accountable figure who local people will be able to contact about the performance of their force.

Mid-week I attended the Westminster launch of Muscular Dystrophy Campaign's new report 'Invest to Save' - which highlighted £31million of NHS waste each year on emergency hospital treatment for muscle-wasting patients. This could have been entirely avoided through proper access to specialist care and equipment.

During the launch I was lucky enough to meet a wonderful local constituent called Elizabeth Orme, who is an inspiration to us all. She is coping magnificently with her illness but I was shocked to hear about difficulties faced by patients and families in accessing the specialist muscle-wasting disease care they so clearly require. I very much hope the Government takes note of this report and puts its very sensible recommendations into practice.

Finally on Friday, before returning to the constituency, I accompanied Transport Secretary Philip Hammond to Birmingham Airport to officially open its new £13 million 'one terminal' building, which I must say is an impressive sight.

Growing up in Birmingham, I have to say that walking though the terminal building brought back memories of my childhood and that feeling of excitement at waiting to go on holiday. Unfortunately this trip was purely business!

Parliament retuned last week following the Easter break, although if you happened to turn over to BBC Parliament you may have noticed a few more empty green benches than usual. For many MPs, last week was instead spent campaigning in their constituencies for the local elections.

On Election Day I was in the Chamber supporting the Transport Secretary Philip Hammond at Transport Questions in my role as PPS. The relative calm around Westminster also gave me the opportunity to catch up on constituency correspondence and prepare for the busy few weeks ahead.

I was delighted last week to have the opportunity to proudly show my support to the Staffords regiment which is currently serving in Afghanistan. We must never forget the bravery and dedication of all our armed service personnel who risk their lives every day to keep us safe. It is indeed thanks to these brave men and women who are standing up for Western values that we are able to take part in free and fair elections.

On the elections, I would like to offer my congratulations to all those Councillors of all political persuasions who were elected last week in Cannock Chase. However, I would also like to pay tribute to all those who lost their seats for the dedicated service they have given our District. A particular tribute must go to former Council leader Neil Stanley. We have occasionally differed, but I know he has always wanted to do the best for our area.

As a former councillor myself, I know full well how vital the role of a councillor is to local communities and what an important part they play in our wider democracy

Last week we saw the different campaigns – for and against – the Alternative Vote Referendum kick off. There were speeches from the Prime Minister (against) and the Deputy Prime Minister (for) plus a host of celebrity endorsements either way.

For those many people too busy working hard, the fact that we are having a referendum on whether to change our voting system on 5th May might seem something of an irrelevance. The reason is because this was a necessary concession by the Conservative Party to the Liberal Democrats, in order for them to agree to enter a Coalition Government with us.

The campaigns for and against AV are non-partisan and parties are divided not just across the floor but within themselves - indeed I never thought I'd see the day that John Prescott and I would see eye to eye on something!

Under AV the second and third and fourth and fifth (you get the message) preferences of those who vote for minor parties are recounted until one candidate receives more than 50 per cent of the votes cast. Those in favour argue that AV will make our system more representative. Those who are opposed believe that the process of reallocating the votes of the losers is simply unfair.

In theory, at the election last year in Cannock Chase, those who voted for Mike Walters (who came last with 93 votes) could have had their votes counted six times. I personally don't believe that one citizen's vote can be worth six times more than another, and think that every member of our society should have an equal say in who represents them.

However, I do believe that that it is right to ask the public about changes to the way they are to be governed. Who knows, in time, referendums may even be extended to other questions as well.

Last week saw one of the two great set piece events of the political year. Alongside the opening of Parliament, Budget Day is one of those events you simply cannot miss.

Rather like on holiday when you get up early to put down a towel on a sun bed, a similar ritual takes place in Parliament where MPs can reserve a place by putting a piece of paper in the slot in front of your seat. Even though I got to the Chamber an hour before the main event, I still found myself almost sitting on the knee of Sir Peter Tapsell. And by the time the Chancellor got up to begin his speech I found myself in my familiar position, sat on the steps, cross-legged on the floor.

It was a scrum from start to finish, which also happens to be where I found myself on Saturday afternoon, when I kept to my promise to play a match for Rugeley Rugby Club - an offer made at their Annual Dinner just days after I was elected last May.

I must confess I was a bit nervous about dusting off my boots having not played a competitive game of rugby for nearly 10 years. However, the boys were very supportive and made me feel really welcome as part of the team. The Birmingham Barbarians were a quality opposition but we certainly had our chances throughout the game. I was deemed unlucky not to score when I crossed the try line following a quick tap penalty. Unfortunately the referee decided I had not taken the penalty from the right spot and called me back. Maybe he should have gone to Portland Optical.

Whilst I don't think Rugeley's regular scrum half will be worried about his place in the team, I hope that I might be used as an 'impact substitution' for a future game!

One of the great privileges of being a MP is the opportunity to meet with so many enthusiastic and passionate young people. Last week I was fortunate to do just that when a delegation of pupils from Kingsmead School in Hednesford came to the House of Commons as part of their investigation into Climate Change and Global Poverty, organised by the charity Oxfam.

They met in one of the Grand Committee rooms, where I used to sit as part of the Home Affairs Select Committee. They explained their detailed research into global poverty and the amount of aid this country gives to the less developed world, before quizzing me relentlessly for twenty minutes. It was tougher than most Home Affairs Committees grillings I have witnessed!

They certainly agreed with helping the billion or so people who survive on less than a dollar a day, but the discussion around which countries to give aid to was lively and interesting. There appeared to be a general consensus that the government was right to cease aid to countries such as Russia and China, and that we should look again at parts of India.

I believe as MPs it is vital we do all we can to inspire the next generation to want to become the politicians of the future, whether this is as local councillors making a real difference to their communities or as MPs making decisions that affect our country. Surely there is no better way to inspire these youngsters than by showing them the home of our political democracy.

The week ended with a visit from Disabilities Minister Maria Miller MP to the fantastic Newlife Foundation based at Hemlock way, Cannock. I was delighted the Minister got the chance to see first-hand the great work undertaken by Shelia Brown and her team helping and supporting families with disabled and terminally ill children.

One of the things you quickly realise when you enter Parliament is the fact that you have to make decisions which will not realise their true benefit or potential until well after you leave Politics.

One such decision is the introduction of High Speed Rail, which in its fully completed form (London to Scotland) will not be completed until nearly 2050. The first phase, London to Birmingham, is due for completion in 2022.

Much of the talk so far has been on the cost of the project, estimated to around £32 Billion. High-speed rail certainly comes with a high-speed price tag - but I think with it will come big benefits and opportunities for us here in Staffordshire and across the West Midlands, estimated at over £46 Billion nationwide.

The West Midlands Chamber of Commerce Survey on High Speed Rail in 2009 identified that 55% of businesses use the train to travel to meetings in London. The proposed new link now under consultation will bring central London to within just 49 minutes of central Birmingham, 80 minutes of Leeds and 73 minutes of Manchester.

It will allow the economy of the West Midlands to benefit much more directly from the economic engine of London, tackling the north-south divide more effectively than half a century of regional policy ever did.

Like the arrival of the motorways in the latter half of the last century helped to boost our regional economy, I am in no doubt that high speed rail will do the same this century.

Yet whilst I might be lucky enough to be one of the first travellers on the London to Birmingham leg, I will be in my 70s before I can go all the way to Scotland, in under 3 ½ hours. Those benefits will have to be enjoyed by my children – and grandchildren.

If you had told me a year ago that I would be standing in the middle of Whitehall signing a big sausage I would have said you were bangers. However, that is exactly the position I found myself in last week when I gave my support to a campaign to give pig farmers a fair deal from supermarkets and feed processors. After chatting with some of the farmers and campaigners they concluded by singing their rather catchy campaign song "Stand by your Ham".

With the song still echoing in my ear, it was back to the Chamber to question Culture Minister John Penrose about the importance of tourism to places like Cannock Chase. He agreed about the importance of labels such as "Heritage" and said it would certainly be advantageous to the Chase if we could get this label.

On a more sober note, I got the opportunity last week to pay my own and Cannock Chase's respects to all those victims of the devastating earthquake that hit Christchurch almost two weeks ago. I was part of a delegation of MPs from all parties who accompanied me to New Zealand House to sign the book of condolences. As a Kiwi myself and with family based over in New Zealand I was particularly concerned when I heard the news of the earthquake. Fortunately my family and friends were safe on the North Island, but my heart goes out to those in and around Christchurch who have suffered terrible losses.

The week ended with a busy couple of days in the constituency conducting surgeries and visiting local projects, including a wonderful group of elderly ladies at the Extra Care nursing home in Hednesford who had won a national award – and celebrated by dancing choreographed Chorus line songs whilst wearing black tie and swirling umbrellas. Signing a sausage and watching a care home chorus - a week is truly a long time in politics!

Last week was Parliament's 'half term' break and I spent some of it giving my flat an early spring clean and chucking out all those old bits and pieces that had found their way to the back of a cupboard, seemingly never to return. I won't tell you how many bags of Helen's clothes were included, but suffice it to say that the local charity shop is now looking for bigger premises!

Getting back to work at the end of the week, I was surprised to see that maybe Parliament should be following suit in having a bit of a spring clean. For it was revealed that it currently possesses over 6,500 painting, statues and tapestries. Now I know that you can hardly go 20 paces at Westminster without tripping over a bust, but really – 6,500 of them. I suspect some are keeping the store cupboards well and truly full.

To make matters worse, they are still adding to the collection. Half a million pounds has been spent since 2007 and another £100,000 has been set aside for further purchases this year. Personally I'd rather have 25 more nurses in my local hospital, or 17 more police patrolling our town centre on a Friday night, than an oily painting of Tony Blair, however appropriate that may sound.

At a time when the country is struggling to pay off record debts and with spending reductions in certain services there is no way that this should be allowed to continue. Parliament needs to recognise this and should stop all spending on its art collection – at least until the economy is back on track.

On a separate note, I would like to congratulate Birmingham City on their historic victory in the Carling Cup final. As a Villa fan I wouldn't normally praise the Blues but it is great to see a Midlands club bringing well earned silverware to our region. Just so long as they don't end up above us in the league!

Parliament has been in recess this week, which gives me the opportunity to reflect on the visit I recently made to a manufacturing business in Cannock, who were re-opening their newly refurbished factory.

During my Maiden Speech in Parliament I set out the challenges the new Government faces in getting our economy moving, especially in constituencies like Cannock Chase. I see restoring Cannock Chase and its three towns to their former glory as a key part of my role as your MP. Like the people of Cannock Chase, I want to see shops and businesses opening rather than closing, I want to welcome new people moving here rather than saying farewell those who choose to leave, and I want families to thrive on all that our area has to offer.

To get growth in the economy requires the complete support of business and enterprise. After all, the public sector is not the productive part of the economy – and cannot pay for itself. Walking around this businesses' new premises I was proud to see such a well-managed, innovative organisation with such dedicated and hard working staff. It is businesses like these that will strengthen the economic recovery and help create the growth that this country needs.

Visiting the factory reminded me of our task as a government – to help new businesses start and existing ones expand and prosper. Whether this can be achieved through the simplification of tax for business, by getting rid of the red tape that is hindering so many of our small firms or by encouraging enterprise through the New Enterprise Allowance, this Government needs to ensure that Britain leads the way in creating the conditions for the private sector to thrive.

I drove away from the visit proud that we have such a beacon of industrial success in the constituency, and I hope that in the forthcoming years this Government will continue to be a catalyst for the regeneration of Cannock Chase.

Last Thursday afternoon, a little piece of parliamentary history was made. The big beast cross-party combination of David Davis and Jack Straw combined to bring about a six-hour debate on whether prisoners should be allowed to vote.

The pairing were clear in their determination to overturn a European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling, stating that disenfranchising prisoners breaches the European Convention on Human Rights - and threatens big compensation payouts to prisoners denied the vote.

Readers may be surprised to learn that this European 'Court' is made up of judges from tiny European states that are able to rule on matters that affect the UK. Liechtenstein, San Marino, Monaco and Andorra have the same amount of say as Britain, France and Germany – despite their combined populations being smaller than that of the London borough of Islington.

Even more astonishingly, the Courts' 47 'representatives' need never even have served as judges in their homeland. Our former Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, has said many of the judges cannot speak English or French – the languages of the court – and do not understand how they reached their own judgments.

So the real question before the House was whether Britain should be governed by its elected Parliament or, as is increasingly the case, by a panel of foreign judges.

Should we as submit yet again to the ECHR, on a matter that concerns nobody but Britain? Or should we send out a defiant signal to the court that the authority of Parliament, derived from the people, must take precedence over the whims of unelected jurists?

The motion passed by 234 votes to 22, and I was proud to be one of the 234. It felt like the start of a fightback for common sense. The big Commons majority means Britain's hand will now be stronger when he goes back to Strasbourg and demands that, in clashes between Parliament and the ECHR, democracy must come first.

The big issue in Westminster this week has been the Government's plan to restructure the Forestry Commission, which is necessary because it currently has a conflict of interest - it is both the regulator and the largest seller of timber into the market, accounting for 70% of all sales. We wouldn't allow water companies to run Ofwat, and hence this anomaly needs to be rectified.

Naturally, it's an issue of critical importance for me, given our local forest lends its name to my constituency – Cannock Chase. However those who have mistakenly referred to this as the 'forest sell-off', or 'privatisation of our woodlands', are quite simply wrong. For a start it's just a consultation exercise, there are no concrete proposals.

The most important thing, tucked away in the details of the Environment Secretary's announcement, is that Cannock Chase will remain in public ownership unless established woodland owners would be prepared, in leasing it, to commit to maintaining and actually improving public access and amenities.

There are no plans to 'sell it off', and the fine detail makes it clear that the Government has listened to the arguments that I and other MPs have made to Ministers in person, about protection for public access, and of the most beautiful and bio-diverse parts of our forest.

There may be some people who want no change whatsoever. But think what that would have meant over recent years. It would have meant 'no' to the hugely popular 'follow the dog' cycle track, 'no' to the 'Go Ape' tree top adventure and 'no' to the popular music concerts each year which many of us (including myself) have attended.

As often in politics, it is easy to attack anyone who dares to change the status quo – but if the choice is between no change at all and change for the better, I will always side with the latter. One of the greatest ever supporters of forests in this country, the 4th Duke of Atholl, who planted millions of trees over thousands of acres, described his efforts as being 'for beauty, for effect and for profit'. Cannock Chase has always followed this maxim and will not survive simply by being preserved in aspic.

Last week I received an exciting offer from the Prime Minister – he asked me whether I would like to be appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Secretary of State for Transport, Rt. Hon. Philip Hammond MP. I must confess it didn't take me long to think about my reply. 'Yes, i'd be delighted, Prime Minister' I think I spluttered, before thanking him for taking the time to visit Cannock recently. 'I loved every minute of it' he replied, before adding somewhat modestly, 'I hope I did ok!'

I must admit I was surprised and very flattered by the offer. It's not every day you get asked to be a PPS, and it is rare for a new MP to be offered the position within just a few months of being elected for the first time. I later found out that I was the first MP from the 2010 intake to be made a PPS to a Cabinet Minister – which is fantastic news as I can bang the drum for Midlands business transport needs at the highest levels of the Department for Transport. Philip also gave me my first job after University, working as his researcher, so it is nice to be back with the old boss.

This appointment does not mean that I'll be neglecting Cannock Chase in any way. In fact, it has just made my determination to get the best deal for our area even greater – by putting Cannock Chase first at the highest levels of government. We are an important manufacturing area, and local businesses need an efficient transport network in order to survive and prosper. Working closely within the Department that has responsibility for our transport system will help to ensure those needs are met, and jobs can continue to be created where they are needed most – here.

Parliament started back this week and it felt good to be in this place fully refreshed after a good break over Christmas. The highlight of the holiday break for me was undoubtedly the Prime Ministers' visit to Cannock last Wednesday, when he came to the Cannock Unionist Club.

This famous Club is celebrating its centenary this year, and I can think of few other similar institutions to have kept their flag flying in our town centre for so long. The PM unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion, before I and other people questioned him about the government's plans to get jobs back to our area, especially through the new apprenticeships being created. It was a real coup – and slightly surreal – to see David Cameron drinking a pint in the Club, but local people seemed to enjoy meeting him and having their chance to talk to him. At least we can say Cannock is now on the Prime Ministerial route map!

There is already a lot being debated in Westminster, the most high profile this week being the EU Bill, which seeks to stop any further transfer of powers to the EU without a referendum of the British people.

There is also the by-election in Oldham and Saddleworth, the debate around the future of Royal Mail, and bankers' bonuses. It seems January will be a busy month!

London being London was never going to be as cold as Cannock Chase last week, but let me tell you – the Palace of Westminster is no place to be when the temperature gets below zero. The Victorians who re-built Parliament were clearly a hardy bunch of men. However I am sure that if there had been women in the Victorian parliaments, they never would have allowed some of the discomforts that have grown up over the years.

The Palace of Westminster is a quilted blanket of buildings, corridors and architectural styles. The oldest part of it dates to the 13th Century, when it was still a Royal Palace. Westminster Hall was built 900 years ago, and was for centuries the centre of the great institutions of state in England. It has seen the transition from autocratic monarchy to the rule of law and representative government, and eventually to parliamentary democracy. But it still has no central heating.

The most modern building is the new MPs office block, Portcullis House, opened by Betty Boothroyd in 1998. My office is in the building next door, Norman Shaw, which was built as an Opera House and served for years as the old Scotland Yard building. It is well provisioned and heated, as you might expect for a former police station. However the only downside is that every time the division bell rings I have to make a brisk walk in the open in order to get from my office to the Chamber, via the ancient and freezing Westminster Hall.

Such eccentricities and quirks are all part of the charm of the place, or Palace. Getting used them has been a major part of the challenge of being a new MP. All in all, we have come a long way since the Victorians - now over 20% of the MPs are women, and still rising. No wonder things are looking up!

Cannock Chase and Cannock Chase people have a treasure on the doorstep. It is the forest that gives us our name and it is a treasure to enjoy, to value and to protect. Roughly 200 years ago the 4th Duke of Atholl planted millions of trees over thousands of acres. He described his efforts as being "for beauty, for effect and for profit". Our own Cannock Chase has been used, as I mentioned in my maiden speech in the House of Commons, for leisure and for profit over the centuries.

The forests around us are not, and never have been, dusty museum pieces to be locked away behind glass walls and to be looked at occasionally as if it was a foreign, strange and unusual memento. Historically, the Chase has always been an economically active area, being used for quarrying, mining, armed forces and, of course, hunting. Over recent years, there has been an increase in activities with more cycle trails, 4x4 off-roading, music concerts and, of course 'Go Ape' at Birches Valley.

So I think the recent announcements by DEFRA should be treated with excitement, rather than concern. The forest is there to be used, to be enjoyed and to be protected. Leisure, use and profit can all live together when managed well. These activities mentioned above raise money for the Forestry Commission, some of which will find its way back to sustaining the Chase. But how much better would it be if the profits and opportunities tied up in Cannock Chase could be shared locally? Would it not be wonderful if local businesses could invest more in the Chase, so that local people might reap more of the benefits? Then we could truly say that we are responsible for the Chase, for its beauty, its conservation and its resource, as opposed to a distant arm of government.

This column is called Week in Westminster. However this week I want to break with tradition and write about last Friday evening in Cannock.

Along with four of my Help Zone team and many hundreds of other local people, including parents and their excited young children, I attended the Christmas lights switch on in the town centre. Having been there last year I was looking forward to another well organised evening of family fun with live bands, fun fair and spectacular firework display. After all, it marks the start of the festive season.

I must say, I came away bitterly disappointed this year. The JLS tribute band seemed to spend most of their time in an expensive looking (and no doubt warm) stretched limo, whilst families, young children and some hardy pensioners braved the cold hoping in vain that the best was yet to come. Despite some very well choreographed dancing by the local young girls, who valiantly tried to lift our spirits, the muffled PA system remained largely inaudible all night and we were treated to just one or two live songs.

Worst of all, the highlight of the whole evening - the traditional and long awaited firework display - was cancelled without even the courtesy of an explanation to the crowd who had waited all evening to see it. As people started booing I found out from a policeman that the fireworks had apparently been cancelled at 4pm due to 'the moisture from the fog'.

This seems bizarre to me. Earlier this month I attended the excellent Lady of Lourdes bonfire night display in Rugeley, where they had no trouble lighting their fireworks despite the pouring rain!

I think the people of Cannock Chase deserve better. Those organising the display owe local people an explanation. At the very least, the Council should publish an audit of the costs of the evening, so local tax payers know how their money was spent.

Last week was six months since I first went down to Westminster as your MP. During that time I have experienced a lot of 'firsts', which I have shared with you here. However, last week's first was a wholly unpleasant experience – my first Westminster riot – and one that I hope will not be repeated. There were justifiable comments from the students that most of them did not take part in the violence. But many of them did and from the outset it was clear this would be a far from a peaceful protest.

It is also particularly distasteful that some lecturers supported the violence that was used.

The issue that the caused the riot – university tuition fees – attracts a fair degree of unanimity across the political spectrum. The latest proposals are actually a less severe implementation of the Browne Report that was set up by the last Labour government. Universities themselves want the fees they can charge to be raised so they can maintain the high levels of education they provide. However, even if everyone in the country except one person thinks that a course of action is right, that one person still has the right to protest.

That is what really worries me about how the students reacted. Resorting to violence gives the authorities an excuse to restrict the people's right to protest. We have already seen a whole range of limitations introduced over the last decade. For example, in 2005 a woman was convicted under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act for reading out, next to the Cenotaph, a list of soldiers killed in Iraq.

Activities such as last Wednesday's are dangerous. Dangerous for those innocently caught up in them. Dangerous for the police who are called upon to protect us. Dangerous for our democracy. Students, of all people, should know better.

When I was very young my father commuted every week from Birmingham to Glasgow because that was where there was work. The population of London doubles every day with commuters who travel up to two hours each way - every day. That is a simple fact of life.

No-one objects to giving somebody a hand or doing someone a favour. But this sense of generosity and community disappears quickly when it is taken for granted or expected. If you are unemployed and your parents or family look after you while you are looking for a job - surely it is reasonable and normal to be expected to return the favour by cleaning the house, doing the washing, tidying the garden or washing the car. Simply put, people being helped should - whatever their level of skills or education - pull their weight. Even the closest families are unwilling to subsidise their family members for ever.

Similarly, it would be normal to expect people who are being subsidised while looking for work, to approach the task of looking for a job as if the search was a full time job.

Living off others as a lifestyle choice is no longer an option. Benefits do not come from the government - they are the income taxes and VAT paid by normal people and businesses who earn their money the hard way.

Under new plans designed to reduce the cycle of welfare dependency and make work pay, people will be helped to avoid the downward spiral that so often accompanies being unemployed by giving them regular experience of work. Jobseekers will benefit from the habits and routines of working life and keep or gain fundamental work disciplines, work and human skills - plus be of benefit to their local community. This is morally right for hard working taxpayers AND for those who find themselves without a job.

Thank God for the constituency, I thought as I drove up the M40 last Thursday night. The week in Westminster had been a trying one, to say the least.

The debate in the Chamber the House, the cockpit of the nation, had turned into an expensive and frustrating charade which drove members of all political parties mad.

During the post-election negotiations the Lib Dems demanded and got a £100 million national referendum on the Alternative Vote system, an obscure and seldom used voting system that had already been rejected in 1998 in the UK because it was unfair. They could have demanded something useful - like free tuition fees. But instead they demanded something that was not even in their manifesto.

Chris Bryant the Labour Shadow Minister spoke and spoke and spoke about changes to the referendum. Not ditching it - changing it. No-one really knew what he was talking about. The House was almost empty. If you can't say what you want to say in an hour everybody switches off.

So far Mr Bryant has spoken for what seems like 65 hours clogging up other debates in the House with a speech that is either aimed at getting in the Guinness book of records or trying to impress his new boss. I bet the bill is shorter than his speech! The last government used a device called a guillotine to cut debates short in the house which meant that an incredible amount of legislation was voted on without ever having been discussed or debated. This week, many in parliament dreamt fondly of the guillotine.

Back on the M40, at least I had a Friday in the constituency to look forward to: Breakfast at the Chamber of Commerce with local businesses; volunteer day with Home Comforts; a night on the beat with the Cannock Town Centre Sergeant. Real people, real challenges. The reason I got into politics.

Last week saw heated debates in Westminster when the Coalition called time on government by credit card.

Many people have to use credit cards to bridge the financial gap at the end of the month. They can be very useful when your car breaks down or an unexpected bill flutters into your post. But many also recognise the empty and frustrating feeling when they see their spare income disappear into a seemingly bottomless pit - paying off debt interest while the amount outstanding never changes. Hard earned money that buys nothing.

No-one wants the bailiffs round. No-one wants to have to go cap in hand to a loan-shark. That is why the announcements on Wednesday were necessary - to stop the country falling further and further into debt. Which parent would be cross if their adult children cut up their credit cards?

Most families face choices every week. Where to buy the cheapest meat, milk and bread - or whether to eat meat at all? To eat out or to eat in? Cinema and popcorn or DVD and popcorn. That's life. But how would you feel if the government entrusted with your money blew it on things you don't need?

Last week saw the shocking news that Staffordshire Council spends nearly £250,000 a year on non-jobs including four Diversity Officers and three Climate Change Officers. You might think that was enough Climate Change Officers for Staffordshire - but you would be wrong. Cannock Chase District Council ALSO employs a Climate Change Officer for £24,143. You might think that 8 more nurses or 8 more teachers would have been money better spent. I certainly do! I cannot wait until the day when dead debt repayment and debt interest money are a thing of the past and the government spends all its tax income on the people it is supposed to serve. In the meantime, let us drop the deceit that cutting waste and non-jobs is bad and evil.

A frequently heard phrase in Westminster is the Big Society. Many journalists and commentators don't seem to get it - almost deliberately. But at its heart it is simply ordinary people rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck in. And in doing so, these ordinary people become extraordinary.

It is all around us - the volunteer referee or sports coach, the people who run clubs and organisations. The people who don't wait until something happens but who get going and do things. These people generally do things much better than a council or a government could. Let me give you a local example.

20 years ago a local lady named Sheila Brown discovered that not enough was being done for disabled children. Instead of looking for help she looked in the mirror and said - why not me?

19 years later Sheila and her 280 staff work out of 2, soon to be 3, purpose build industrial units. The foundation that she started, the brilliantly named Newlife Foundation, has helped around 4000 children, spent £5.5 million on vital equipment and over £11 million on medical research and runs a Nurse Helpline. How? They recycle the un-wanted clothes of the big retailers and sell them on to local people at a much reduced price. All the profits go to running the disabled charity.

What she has done is an inspiring and humbling example of what can be done by someone who says - "I am going to do something" and actually does it. She is exactly what is meant by the Big Society. 

There was a fight last week. And like with all fights everybody came out a bit bloodied - but it was a sensible fight. A fight for commonsense. I am talking about taking child benefits out of the universal benefits regime.

Today the news was released that the Deputy Director General of the BBC has been made redundant. His annual salary is over £400 000 and his redundancy payout is over £900 000. I don't know whether he has children or not - but if he does have children, he can claim child benefits. On over £400 000 a year! That is madness.

Some parents in London bank their child's child benefits and then "give" their child a deposit to buy a house on the child's coming of age. Others I know of use it to pay for ski holidays. Both are wrong! But who can blame parents if they are all ‘entitled'?

Child benefits should be for food and clothes and activities for children. And they are hugely important - especially for single parent families and families with modest or low earnings.

The fact that child benefits have been classified as a universal benefit means that some people who don't need the money have used the tax payer funded benefit for house deposits or ski passes in Meribel.

And while some pocket benefits they don't need, many others are struggling to make ends meet, often with gritted teeth and a forced smile. People faced with hard choices every day. People who are squeezed financially. People who understand that the welfare state is not for the wealthy. It was never meant to be for the wealthy. The welfare state is designed give a helping hand to those who really need it.

There have of course been heated discussions about where the cut off line should be and some disparities with two earners just below the £44,000 cut off point. But the end of universal benefits makes sense.

Quangos made the news again this week. They have been a hot topic ever since I can remember. Governments of every colour have promised to cut their numbers but, just like the Hydra, for every one that is cut down two more seem to grow in their place.

This time there seems to be a real determination to drive out waste and inefficiencies - even if it means getting rid of some high profile ones, like the National Audit Office, which have outgrown their original functions and become hugely expensive and bureaucratic.

Certainly the need to reduce them has never been stronger and many of the roles they fulfil are hardly frontline or often seem to overlap each other. Even the greatest lover of public spending would be hard pushed to explain why the National Lottery Commission - "Ensuring a fair Lottery for the nation" - and the Gambling Commission - "Keeping Gambling Fair & Safe For All" - need to be separate organizations. (Yes - they do all have slogans. I wonder how much they cost?)
Meanwhile, S4C - the Welsh Channel 4, which has an estimated audience of 63,000 people - receives funding of over £100 million from the Department of Culture to broadcast TV programmes solely in Welsh. Surely it is only right in these days of devolved government that if Welsh television is to be subsidised it should come from the Welsh government in Cardiff and not the taxpayers of Cannock Chase?

Because next week is my party conference it won't be a week in Westminster but a week in Birmingham. I am proud that David Cameron will be making his first conference speech as Prime Minister in my home town. I intend to use conference to keep reminding everyone about how important the West Midlands is - and about how one small part of it is very important indeed

Last week was the second of the two weeks we are back in Westminster, before the Party Conference season begins. Although I was initially sceptical as to whether getting Parliament to return for just two weeks would be of any value, I must confess it feels like we have got a lot done in a short space of time.

This week saw the death of ID Cards. I served on the ID Cards (Repeal) Bill in my first few weeks as an MP and I was proud to speak in the Chamber to ensure the people of this country would never have to ‘show their papers'. My grandfather was one of the many who fought for his country to safeguard our freedoms - and for me that includes the state not being able to demand that you show your identity.

The biggest shock was the cost of the scheme - just over 14,000 ID cards were ever produced, with 3,000 being given away for free. When you add up the cost of the computer database which sits behind it, the cards have ended up costing the taxpayer - you and me - a massive £25,000 EACH. That's more than a nurse or a police officer. For a piece of plastic that the bombers in Madrid had in their wallets - hardly a deterrent against terrorism.

The week ended on a real high in Cannock with the Reform think tank event: ‘Can Cannock Cope?' It was a public debate about public spending cuts and was well attended by local people who listened as local champions explained how savings could be made whilst protecting the front line. There was no sense of despair - more one of a local community facing up to the realities of public spending reductions and being creative about it. We will need such positivity over the months to come

This week has been a real week. There are some weeks in Westminster when I wish I was in Cannock Chase and when I seriously think I would be more use there than in London. I am sure everyone has weeks like that. This week was different. Parliament flexed its muscles.

Monday kicked off the week with a debate on the proposed change to how you elect MPs. There is no enthusiasm for the proposed change from Labour or the Conservatives and the Lib Dems don't want it either really - Nick Clegg even called it a "miserable little compromise" before the election. I think we can reform the current system by bringing in a recall system to "fire" rotten MPs and I quite like the idea of Open Primaries for the selection of candidates. I will be voting No2AV.

Then the Home Affairs Select Committee showed its teeth. We had Inspector Yates of Scotland Yard giving evidence. The questions about phone hacking and the privacy of the individual that were asked by this small committee of 12 MPs in a room high above Parliament - and the answers received - were followed by most of the national papers all week.
Then I spoke in an Opposition Day debate in the Chamber on police bureaucracy. Nothing is more basic that the physical security of the individual. I worked with many police forces before I became an MP and I believe I combine the affection that we all have for the police and the local bobby with an understanding of how things could be improved. Just 14% of police hours are spent on the beat - 20% on paperwork. How can that be right? Like most people I just care about whether me and my family feel safe. And I want the police out there fighting and preventing crime - not fighting paper with ink stained fingers.

What happened this week, in the committee rooms and the chamber of Westminster, prove that imperfect as it is, Parliament does work. Good week.

This week's column should be called ‘Weeks in Cannock Chase' rather than Week in Westminster - as Parliamentary Recess has meant that MPs don't have to be in Westminster! It has been really great to be able to spend so much time here and make proper and extended use of our Cannock home - without having to keep travelling backwards and forwards from London. Apart from holding surgeries I have been out and about meeting local businesses, voluntary organisations and public sector workers.

One of the highlights of the last few weeks have included was meeting John Weedon. At his company, Weedon Packaging Solutions in Hednesford, 100 local people produce the most amazing set of boxes used all across the country by retailers like Tescos and Asda. A great example of a thriving local business.

I was also inspired by how Pertemps of Mill Street in Cannock help get the long termed unemployed back into work through 1-2-1 tuition, interview training and numeracy courses. This was good research before being shown around Job Centre Plus. Both organisations are working hard to get local people back into work - vital given the legacy of high unemployment in our area.

As well as spending a day on the beat with the police, I had very constructive meetings with the leaders of Hednesford Town Council, Cannock Chase District Council, and the CEO of the West Midlands Ambulance Service Fire. I also met the Chairman of South Staffordshire PCT to discuss the local NHS situation and the progress made at Staffordshire General.
Amongst the most disturbing and thought provoking visits were the ones to the secret location of a local women's refuge and the YMCA in Rugeley which provides 24 flats for homeless children.

The last few weeks have reinforced my belief in the importance of jobs, self respect, families and well run public services.

Well the first "term" is nearly over. Just 3 short months ago I was honoured to become your MP. A month later, we found our new home in Heath Hayes. After two months I finally got my office in Westminster and this week my shop - or MP Help Zone - is opening in Cannock.

In Westminster I was sworn in wearing a Rugeley Rugby Club tie. Later I was elected by other MPs to serve on the Home Affairs Select Committee and also helped throw out ID cards. I was also elected Vice-Chair of the Parliamentary Rugby Club. This week I even got a mention from the Home Secretary in the House for my job before Parliament when working in the Home Office.

In Cannock I have started my volunteering days and been to numerous events including visits to local schools and businesses. I have met hundreds of constituents in surgeries and around the constituency and have worked with my team on over 90 specific cases. Some of the people I have met have had the most desperate of issues to deal with and my staff and I are working hard to improve the service we give you. Setting up two offices and employing a team has not been without its challenges - and I do not want to give the impression that it has been a perfect start - but my team and I care deeply about looking after the needs of local people.

That is why we are all so passionate about opening, for the first time EVER in Cannock, the MP Help Zone. Local residents can simply drop in during normal shop hours without having to wait for an appointment - and often can be helped without having to wait to see me. Surgery, news and shop details can be found on www.aidanburleymp.org

Westminster is seldom boring. Every day is different. Like most jobs, it has its "hurry up and wait" moments. But this week has been mad.

Internationally, The Prime Minister flew business class to the States to meet President Obama, William Hague is at a conference in Afghanistan and Baroness Warsi is discussing woman's rights and anti-terrorism measures in Pakistan.
Back home in Britain, quangoes are being cut, the government is moving to simplify the tax system, changes to schools are being discussed, the end of bin taxes is announced and locally in Staffordshire the Public Inquiry into the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust has begun.

In Westminster Peter Mandelson's book has caused a stir amongst opposition MPs. The polite grins being shown by the leadership rivals as they chat up their colleagues are quickly becoming more forced and desperate. The knives are out everywhere.

For me it has been a huge week. I took my place for the first time on the Home Affairs Select Committee. It is held in one of the old Committee rooms, high up in Westminster Palace itself. There are 14 of us - chaired by Keith Vaz. All of us have been elected by a vote of all the MPs of our respective parties. Not only am I one of the youngest MPs - I am also only the second youngest member of a Select Committee. The House of Commons has appointed the Committee with the task of examining the expenditure, administration, and policy of the Home Office and its associated public bodies And straight into the deep end for our first meeting - my job was to quiz the Home Secretary on the issue of police bureaucracy and doing more for less. I was delighted when she agreed with me on the urgent need to cut the bureaucracy our police have to fight every day when they should be fighting crime.

Last week, and taking it right up to the 12 minute wire, I gave my Maiden Speech. Delivering a good Maiden speech is daunting as it establishes how MPs who do not know you, will judge you. And if that was not enough - my mother and some friends were watching from the galleries!

I sketched out some of the history and rich history of Cannock Chase, home over the centuries to "Kings and to coal miners". I described Cannock Chase as having been the "petrol station" of the Industrial Revolution - an essential role in the development of the UK into what it is today. Then, as Cannock Chase "Salesman in Chief", I gave my colleagues in the House a taste of what the Chase offers today in terms of leisure facilities - specifically biking and music concerts.
I paid tribute to my predecessor - the independent-minded and well-liked Dr Tony Wright when I said "In my view he is one of the best parliamentarians we have had in recent times." The House of Commons is now implementing the Wright Reforms that he oversaw. I am still amazed that his skills were not used more by the Labour Government. He should have been a Minister.

I also mentioned his predecessor Gerald Howarth - now a Government Minister as well as the resident of No 9 Downing Street, the Government Chief Whip - who was once a Cannock District Councillor and Littleton coal miner.
Having three members of the House of Commons connected to Cannock Chase augurs well for the future.
Talking of the future, I said "Our challenge in Cannock Chase is restore (our) towns to their former glory, where shops are opening not closing, which people move to not from, and where businesses and families can thrive. I very much hope to be a catalyst for that regeneration."

There is much still to do

"No one ever built a monument to a Committee" - because they never get anything done. That's what I always believed. Which is why I was a little surprised to be selected to serve on TWO big Committees as a new MP - the Home Affairs Select Committee, and the ID Cards (Repeal) Bill.

However, having just finished serving two weeks on the ID Cards Bill, I must say my view has changed. Well, a little. Whilst there is still too much hot air in these committees, I am delighted to have helped scrutinise the first ever piece of new legislation of the new coalition government - that tasked with getting rid of Labour's plans to introduce ID cards.
Nobody I speak to in Cannock Chase really likes ID cards. First of all they don't like the idea of having to pay for them. Then they don't like the idea of being stopped by the police checking their details. And they really don't like the idea of having to carry the blasted things around with them, all the time.

They also don't trust the huge database that would have had to be built behind them - which would have been as vulnerable as all the government databases, several of which have been left on CDs in trains, taxis and pubs!
In 2007 HM Revenue and Customs lost two computer discs containing the entire child benefit records, including the personal details of 25 million people - covering 7.25 million families overall. I for one am glad that all my biometric data and passport details aren't on the 17.02 to Stafford.

I still believe the world moves forward by outstanding people, not outstanding committees. But I am pleased to be playing my full role as a legislator.

In previous columns I have spoken about the history of Westminster, the excitement of my first few weeks, the atmosphere of the House of Commons. This week is different. And I am not talking about the football.

The chamber of the House of Commons is the place where heavy duty things are debated and decided. Things that affect real people. Things like deciding whether to spend more than you earn, or less. Things like deciding whether to go to war or not. It has been a very sombre place at times this week. First we had the tough medicine of the budget. The bank manager cutting up some of the country's credit cards.

Then we had the terrible news that the 300th British soldier had died in Afghanistan. Fighting for all of us and for our great country. This death was no more tragic than the 299 previous deaths, nor those since. But it signalled a time for reflection. And all the more poignant with Armed Forces Day being hosted and celebrated across the country. Most of these incredible soldiers were younger than me when they died. All of them were members of a family. All of them are mourned.

A friend of mine visited the Air Show at Biggin Hill this weekend, once the most bombed few square miles in the UK. Spitfires flew past in mock dog-fights - a reminder of all the young men and women that have risked and lost their lives for our way of life over the years.

So while the TV, Radio and newspapers are full of post-match analysis about our sporting result in South Africa - let us all take a moment, acknowledge and thank those brave heroes who risked and lost their lives of us all. We salute you all.

This week was Budget Week. It was an emergency budget, necessary because of the previous government's management, which meant we have lived on increasing amounts of credit as a country for years.

We now borrow one pound for every four we spend - increasing our national debt by £3 billion a week. For me, the key figure was that if we carried on borrowing and spending as we were, during this parliament the interest payments ALONE to international bankers would be a quarter of a trillion pounds. That is money that could be used to educate our children, police our streets and defend our country.

Yes, some of the decisions in the budget were tough, but some of them seemed to be focussed specifically towards helping areas such as Cannock Chase. For example:

• An increase of £1,000 of tax free income for the lowest paid
• Lower corporation tax for manufacturers
• A reduction of business tax for smaller businesses
• Businesses set up outside of London and the South East (such as in Cannock Chase) do not have to pay employer national insurance on their first 10 employees hired in their first year of business
• Cancellation of the planned jobs tax
• Re-linking of the state pension to annual earnings

I promised during my campaign to say that ‘Cannock Chase is open for businesses'. These measures will actively support what I want to achieve.

The House of Commons was absolutely jam packed to hear this announcement, and the atmosphere was electric. MPs were packing the aisles to hear what was said - and your own MP was sat on the carpet throughout. Isn't it a good job that health and safety legislation doesn't appear to apply to the House of Commons!

Last week was a very important week for residents of Cannock Chase and other users of Stafford and Cannock Hospitals - and the NHS in general. The new Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, kept his promise to hold a Full Public Enquiry (under the 2005 Act) into the tragic events at Stafford Hospital.

This came as great news to all those who have been affected by what went on at Stafford, and it was heartening to see Julie Bailey and Cure the NHS down in Westminster. They have campaigned tirelessly for a Public Inquiry and deserve this result. They are a credit to themselves and to Staffordshire.

The reason we need a full public enquiry is not only to make sure that it never happens again at Stafford - but that the systems, process and procedures that went so badly wrong can never happen again at ANY hospital in the country. I have never believed what went on at Stafford was peculiar to our hospitals - and we must learn the full lessons for the sake of the wider NHS.

During the debate, I asked my first ever question on the floor of the House of Commons. It was concerning a constituent who had been thrown off her training course as a nurse at both Cannock and Stafford hospitals, after starting to expose some of the appalling neglect of her elderly patients. Instead of having her concerns taken seriously, she instead lost her job.

I was therefore delighted to hear that the government will be introducing new protections for ‘whistleblowers' so that the culture of secrecy and fear will no long reign. I hope that last week marks a new chapter for our NHS.

The last week has been an incredibly sad one for me, after learning of the death of Cllr John Jillings. John was a not only a great servant to his community, but also a close friend. He was larger than life, with an infectious and palpable enthusiasm for life and a real can-do attitude. Cannock Chase has lost a magnificent man, and we will all be worse off for not having him around. My sincere condolences go out to Mandy and his family.

I remember when I first got selected as a candidate, John - JJ to his friends - was there on the selection committee, asking me difficult questions, probing and testing my knowledge and experience. We shared a passion for the police and reducing their stifling bureaucracy and as an ex-policeman he was passionate about Street Wardens.

As a campaigner, he was second to none. His love of life and making things better for his community was un-matched; he was a true champion for his community, and was doing important things as Conservative Group Leader.

On a positive note, and this is something that would not have surprised JJ, I have been - quite literally - overwhelmed by the number of responses to my advert for an Office Manager in this paper just two weeks ago. We have had nearly 50 CVs sent in, many of incredibly high quality. There is truly some first class talent wanting to make a difference and help their community. Many thanks to all who have applied - it is genuinely much appreciated.

I am hoping to make a decision very soon, but have decided to personally interview every candidate- so please bear with me! In the meantime my brand new website went live this week - www.aidanburleyMP.org - why not have a look and let me know what you think?

Last week saw me, and all other new MPs summoned down to the famous green branches in Westminster.

We have been attending back-to-back induction training for new MPs. These training courses have been incredibly useful as they are geared towards making us effective Members of Parliament - able to be of real use to you, the constituents.
After all the ups and downs of the campaign, I will never forget that my job is to be your servant in Cannock Chase and Westminster.

The first week has not been without it's challenges, however - we were given a phone number, but no telephone; a laptop and email (Aidan.Burley.MP@parliament.uk), but with no broadband in the Palace of Westminster, picking up emails has been difficult , to say the least!
We have also been told we will have to wait several weeks for offices. Please do bear with me if you are trying to get in touch during these first few frantic weeks.

There was also the bigger issue of whether we would be in Government or Oppisition, or, as it turned out, in Coalition. I have a feeling that this new politics will provide a strong and stable Government for years to come. It certainly feels fresh and positive to me.
After the rarefied atmosphere of Westminster, it was good to come back to Cannock Chase on Friday, and meet business leaders at the Chamber of Commerce Forum.

In the evening I presented the awards at the Rugeley Rugby Club Annual -Dinner, where I foolishly agreed to play a match for their ‘B' Team next season!

I had better start training!