It has been an intense week. Monday morning I met the Minister for NHS Property Services. I left reassured that a new team are getting a grip but with a lot of local issues to follow-up. I also met the Transport Secretary and Rail Minister on the dreadful ongoing disruption. Tuesday was the Schools Minister on school funding. I focused on the budget of one local school and the challenges it faces. I later joined Heads and pupils campaigning on the same subject in Downing Street. I also took up local school funding direct with the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
I would like to say that we will secure all the funds we want for local public services. It is a huge priority but I am afraid it is a very tough ask. Despite vastly narrowing the gap, we still spend £70bn a year more on public services than we raise. Every penny of the £70bn is added to debts that today’s school children will be paying off (with interest) in the future.
The importance of the economy is why the Government is so focused on securing the right deal on Brexit: this week I am in the Chamber whilst Parliament raises aspects of Brexit on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and possibly Friday – a level of scrutiny I expect will continue.
Lobbying continues on airport expansion: a decision is expected imminently. Meanwhile the Commons debates on Thursday the collapse of BHS: the report into which took up a lot of time earlier this year but from which we hope lessons can be learned.
Amid all the intensity, its constituents who focus MPs on particular issues of concern. This was echoed by the Disabilities Minister, Penny Mordaunt, when she met the Motor Neurone Disease Association on Tuesday, a meeting joined by Horsham constituents and me. It was the second time I had seen the MNDA this week following their entertaining fund-raiser on Saturday. I am delighted the Government has scrapped testing for work-capability for those with serious degenerative diseases. It was a regular complaint received by MPs. I am glad its gone and on other areas – as Penny made clear - there is more we can learn.