This week began with the terribly sad news that my predecessor, Lord John Maples, had died. John was a great Parliamentarian who held a number of front bench roles including Shadow Secretary of State for Health, defence and foreign affairs. He was also a great constituency MP and more than willing to give me help and advice, both when I was selected as the Conservative Candidate for Stratford and after I was elected as an MP. He was held in deep affection by all those who knew and worked with him and I know he will be sorely missed both inside and outside politics. John was also a great family man and is survived by his wife Jane and his children Tom and Rose to whom I have passed my deepest condolences. Monday The return of Parliament on Monday saw the Enterprise and Regulatory reform Bill obtain it’s second reading. This is a very wide ranging and important Bill which makes provision for the Green Investment Bank (a Conservative Manifesto Pledge), abolishes the competition Commission and Office of Fair Trading in favour of the creation of a new single Competition and markets authority, reduces legislative burdens on business and amends employment law and includes provision on executive pay. Now it’s had it’s second reading and debate in the House of Commons it will go forward to the Committee Stage which begins on Monday the 19th of June. Tuesday On Tuesday I appeared on the Daily Politics Show discussing changes to employment tribunals and equality legislation with the Head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Trevor Philips. The Government is committed to reducing the burden of red-tape on business and through the red-tape challenge has already reviewed 1,500 pieces of regulation and agreed to abolish or amend 50% of them. Importantly it is changing the way employment tribunals work and amending equality legislation to reduce the burden on business and the public sector. You can read more about exactly what the government is doing and link through to iPlayer to watch my appearance on Daily Politics here: Employment and Equality Legislation On Tuesday I was also successful in the ballot to ask a question of the Secretary of State for Health at Oral Questions. My tabled question was to ask the Secretary of State what progress clinical commissioning groups have made in improving care for patients and I also had the chance to ask a supplementary question relating to my own constituency. I firmly believe that putting clinical professionals such as GPs in charge of commissioning NHS services is a powerful mechanism for change. However there is a significant danger that the inertia of the old system restricts their ability to do things in innovative and different ways and I have been particularly concerned to hear that GPs in charge of commissioning in South Warwickshire are being blocked from doing this. Specifically I have been told specifically that they are being forced to use ex-PCT contract managers based in Birmingham, rather than finding the best locally based resources and raised my concerns with the Secretary of State. You can read the whole question and response at TheyWorkForYou. I was also lucky enough on Tuesday to have a meeting at the Department for Work and Pensions with Ian Duncan Smith. Secretaries of State often give backbenchers the opportunity to meet them to discuss the work of their department, and we had a very good conversation discussing the forthcoming implementation of Universal Credit and changes to the welfare system. Such meetings also give MPs a chance to feedback some of their case-work and individual concerns which I was also able to do. Welfare reform is a fundamental element of the Government’s agenda and it’s vital that we ensure that work always pays, which is why policies such as the £26,000 a year benefit cap and universal credit are so important. Wednesday Wednesday was Prime Minister’s Questions, as always a full and boisterous affair, the afternoon also saw an Opposition Day debate on Jeremy Hunt and his quasi-judicial role in the News International BSKYB bid. I also met with a constituent, Tracy Dunn, from Ullenhall who was taking part in a mass lobby of Parliamentarians on behalf of Brain Tumour UK. I think it’s important the Parliamentarians meet with their constituents to hear their concerns and having looked into it beforehand I was pleased to be able to tell her that this Government is taking them seriously and acting on their recommendations. Thursday Proceedings in the House on Thursday opened with Questions to the Leader of the House. This is an opportunity for MPs to raise an issue and ask for a debate on it. I was lucky enough to be called and asked if we could have a debate on supporting the motor industry and it’s supply chain on the back of positive news from Bentley, Jaguar Land Rover and Aston Martin. Answering Sir George Young opened by sending his condolences to the family of John Maples and praising his contribution to politics. You can read the entire question and answer at TheyWorkForYou. On Thursday I also spoke at the "Year Ahead in Parliament" conference on the economy and growth. You can read my full speech on my blog, but in short I pointed out that we must find a solution to the Eurozone’s issues, that a Greek exit is unlikely to happen, and that as a government we have to give business confidence to invest their cash reserves to create an economic stimulus. At the same time I strongly believe we need to be consider a real long term sustainable growth strategy which as well as includeing our education and welfare reforms must include a serious look at transport, including airport capacity. Friday Friday was as ever a packed day in the constituency starting at Haselor Primary school, near Alcester, with a talk and Q&A with their School Council. I also had a discussion with staff at break time about education reform and agreed to take back some concerns about OFSTED ratings to the head of OFSTED and the Secretary of State. Next stop was Warwickshire College in Henley in Arden, to take part in some activities and classes for a celebration of Vocational Qualifications Day next Wednesday. Warwickshire College is a great resource offering a very wide range of vocational qualifications and is also a major partner for Henley in Arden School’s Free school enterprise sixth form bid. Whilst there I visited the theatrical costumes department and learnt how to make a bag out of an old pair of jeans and also visited sports science students who analysed my gait using the same technology that the BBC will be using at the Olympics. At lunchtime I had a chance to visit Mockley Manor Care Home in Ullenhall, somewhere I first visited during the election for a hustings at which I was the only candidate who turned up! Along with Denis, a resident of the home, and two nurses I planted a tree to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and had a quick look round including a visit to see the home’s prize chickens that residents jointly look after. Completing the education theme for the day I also met with the Head, business manager and a Governor at Stratford High to discuss how Academy Status was working. I was delighted to hear of the innovative work they’re able to do thanks to the freedoms of Academy status. Particularly interesting was their Green Stream for gifted and talented pupils which next year will see the top 60 (or possibly 90) year seven students do an extra hour of study a day and take on extra classes such as mandarin, classics and even astronomy. A very clever response to the increased intakes of the local Grammar schools and only possible thanks to Academy freedoms. It was then back to my office for meetings and surgery, discussing an idea on youth unemployment and training with one of our councillors for Bidford and one of his ward members, a new student magazine that has been set-up in Stratford, and rounding up with surgery appointments on a wide range of issues including gay marriage, compensation for receiving infected blood, planning concerns and safety on the Alcester road. Then it was on to the Laughing Buddha Chinese restaurant in Stratford to meet with the China Focus group, a group set-up by Stratford Business Forum’s Jonathan Smith to help further Stratford’s ties and export opportunities to China. In Parliament I am a member of the All Party Group on China and it was very useful to hear about their plans, discuss the opportunities China offers for Stratford businesses and how I can help support the group and their aims. Saturday Saturday morning was the Royal British Legion’s 90th anniversary Drum Head Service in Stratford, which included a parade through the town. The Royal British Legion is an incredibly important charity, that works so hard for our serving members of the armed forces and ex-service men and women and their families and I felt very privileged to be asked to take part in such an important event. Luckily the rain held off for the parade, but by the time I got to Stratford Boat Club’s regatta in the afternoon the skies had opened. However a great time was had by all and I couldn’t have had a warmer welcome from their president Felix and from club captain Jen. The river is a fantastic resource in Stratford and we are very lucky to have our own boat club in the town that gets to use it. Photos of my day on Friday and Saturday are all available on my Flickr Page