MP's Newsletter – Late March

Since the last newsletter I....

• Spoke in the debate on Domestic Energy (Tariff Cap) Bill.
• Led a Backbench Business Committee Debate on Energy Efficiency and The Clean Growth Strategy.
• Attended the "Forward Ladies" event being sponsored by HSBC.
• Supported WWF's Earth Hour, the world's largest event to protect the planet.
• Took part in the General Debate on European Affairs.
• Attended the first HS2 Implementation Advisory Group meeting.
• Opened new facilities at Chestnut Meats in Nantwich.
• Visited Tarporley Arts Market.
• Intervened in the House of Commons on the issue of Russia.

HS2 Implementation Advisory Group

I along with a range of local stakeholders including Wimboldsley School and Cheshire West and Chester Council met with representatives from HS2. This was the first of several quarterly meetings that The Advisory Group will hold to discuss the current proposals of the HS2 route through Eddisbury.

I continue to have concerns in relation to the current proposals and will be using the Advisory Group as an opportunity to raise these concerns directly with HS2.

Forward Ladies

Last Friday I spoke to Forward Ladies, a group dedicated to empowering women in business. It was a pleasure to meet so many talented, motivated women. I told them a bit about my career and the lessons I'd learned from it about the need to support women to succeed. I also talked about how Parliament has changed and how each generation owes a debt of gratitude to the last. This isn't the first women's group I've spoken to this year and I doubt it'll be the last. This year is 100th anniversary of women's suffrage and there has never been a better time to celebrate the progress we have made.

WWF's Earth Hour

Taking place at 8:30-9:30pm on Saturday 24 March, the event is the world's largest show of support for our planet. Lights around the world will go out for the hour, from the Taj Mahal to Buckingham Palace, as well as hundreds of millions of people around the world. In the UK alone, more than eight million people and 300 landmarks, including The Shard, Edinburgh Castle and Carnaby Street, are expected to participate.

WWF's Earth Hour provides an opportunity to raise awareness of some of the biggest environmental challenges facing our generation. I hope by making this promise today that I can encourage others to make a pledge too. Together we can make a difference.

Supporting an Energy Price Cap

Last week I supported the Government's proposal for an energy price cap. Some customers are paying more than £300 too much. To fix this the Government is putting in place a ceiling price above which prices cannot rise. Which? says that energy prices topped the list of consumer worries-- 64% of consumers were worried about their energy prices. This is a great step towards ensuring that energy prices are brought under control. I also led a debate in Westminster about the importance of energy efficiency. From small scale measures such as loft insulation to grander projects the potential of energy efficiency is huge. A proper programme of energy efficiency measures could save energy equivalent to 6 nuclear power stations. Such a programme would be an important step to keeping bills down in the longer term, as well as helping to tackle climate change.

My Comments on Russia

After the Prime Minister's statement yesterday, this is what I said on the issue of Russia:

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