On Thursday parliament rose for the two-week Easter recess, it had been an exceptionally busy legislative week until that point.

MPs were asked to consider the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Bill; the Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill; the Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill; the Fire Safety Bill; and the Coronavirus Act 2020 (Review of Temporary Provisions) (No.2).

In addition there have been important speeches from Ministers, not least the launch of a consultation on the Home Secretary, Priti Patel’s, new plan for immigration.

I know this is an issue which many of my constituents feel strongly about. To find out more and have your say in the consultation, which closes on 6 May, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/new-plan-for-immigration    

I also know many of you have been in contact with me over the past year about environmental issues. The Government has also unveiled further reforms that hope to boost recycling, tackle plastic pollution and reduce litter.

Two consultations have been launched, and given your interest I thought you might want to take part and have your say directly:

• Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers: Introducing a Deposit Return Scheme in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - Defra - Citizen Space

• Extended Producer Responsibility to encourage manufacturers to reduce their packaging waste: Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging - Defra - Citizen Space

Aside from that this week I have:

• Had a briefing from Health Minister Jo Church about the Roadmap Regulations and the One Year Review of the Coronavirus Act.
• Received another briefing from the Health Secretary about the future of Public Health.
• Spoke with Dr Sharon Redrobe, Chief Executive of Twycross Zoo, about their post-lockdown plans.
• Took part in the Health and Social Care Select Committee where this week we took evidence on child mental health and I raised concerns over length waiting times and access.
• Visited St Mary’s School in Hinckley where I had the please of presenting staff and pupils with the Wellbeing Award for Schools. Huge congratulations to them!
• And visited Hastings High School where we continued to talk about supporting them to improve the fabric of their school.
• Had a lovely Zoom call with Year 6’s at St Margaret’s Primary, Stoke Golding where we discussed plastics pollution.
• Met with the Chief Executive of a local care home provider.
• Met with the Leadership of the George Eliot hospital to hear how they are progressing
• And held another constituent surgery discussing: proportional representation, Uni issues through COVID and mental well being issues

Please don’t forget that the next step in the Government’s Covid-19 Roadmap out of lockdown starts on Monday when the requirement to stay at home is lifted, we can take part in organised outdoor sport and leisure activities, and meet up with another household outdoors (subject to the Rule of 6).

Over 50,000 constituents have now received the vaccine and we know that already that nationally over 6,000 lives have been saved. Please do keep up the great work!