This week I have spent a couple of days on a Parliamentary committee visit to Gibraltar. The
European Scrutiny Committee was there to discuss with the Government of Gibraltar and other
interested parties how its negotiation with the EU is progressing and to support the process of
getting their future relationship sorted in the interest of people on both sides of their border with
Spain.
Our committees don’t make the headlines often but they do important work in analysing specific
areas and activities and informing our Government and decision makers about the fine detail of
certain things as well as bringing a fresh perspective for Ministers to consider. They also provide a
way for MPs to access to specialist knowledge of the clerks and others in helping shape their views
and policies. In this committee's case the clerk team is second to none in understanding what is
happening in the EU that may affect us in different parts of the UK or bear on our relationship with
it.
I was also very pleased to visit Yeovilton last week to meet the management of the Navy Wings
heritage flight charity which does so much to keep our rich naval aviation history alive. I am trying to
help get a fairer tax deal for charities like this as I am sure that access to our heritage and seeing it
still fly is one of the ways we can inspire our future pilots and engineers.
A number of people here in Somerset have got in touch with concerns about getting NHS dentist
appointments. It’s an issue I have raised both here with our local NHS and also with the
Government. There are strategies in place at both levels to increase availability but they are taking
time because of staffing numbers and the way contracts work which Ministers are reviewing.
At the start of 2022, the Government provided £50 million funding across England to support the
delivery of 350,000 additional dental appointments. This funding was targeted towards those in
greatest need of dental treatment – children, people with learning disabilities, autism or severe
mental health problems. It’s a good start but I will keep pressing for transformative action on this as
I know it is a worry for many.
Whilst my focus is always on Somerset and what we can deliver here, there has been a certain
amount of drama in Westminster this week. I do take a particular interest in the economy and I think
Nadhim Zahawi has got the potential to do a great job as Chancellor. I will be amongst the first to
knock on his door and call for radical reform of our tax system both to help those most in need and
also incentivise growth and investment, and new attention to those matters is a positive
development.
Finally, a brilliant example of our local groups, Yeovil Lynx Wheelchair Basketball Club, is looking for
players aged 7+. If you or someone you know might like to give it a try do look them up on Facebook,
it’s a great sport.