This week, I once again spoke in the Chamber on the worrying topic of knife crime. Knife crime is a blight on our society and an issue close to my heart following my experience working in a youth centre in Brixton and Camberwell Green.

Bexhill and Battle MP, Huw Merriman, has called on Parliament to become a home for bees and pollinators. Speaking in the House of Commons during a climate change debate, the MP called Parliament an “appalling environment” for pollinators and called on MPs to “do more than just talk a good game”.

In Parliament, Huw asked the Work and Pensions Minister what steps the department was taking to help people with disabilities enter work.

This week the team involved in the huge renovation project of Parliament unveiled plans for the new House of Commons chamber. This will be built on the former site of the Health Department. Of more interest to me is what we can do to the remainder of the Parliamentary estate.

In questions to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Huw took to the chamber to ask MPs to attend a meeting with organisations such as Kew Gardens, Friends of the Earth and the RSPB to discuss his proposals for the greening of the parliamentary estate and to potentially bring a

Huw Merriman, MP for Bexhill and Battle, met with Education Minister, Nadhim Zahawi, MP to discuss the Government’s national autism strategy. Huw was joined by representatives from the National Autistic Society and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Autism, Dame Cheryl Gillan MP.

In this week’s Transport Select Committee, Rail Minister Andrew Jones MP and Director General of the Rail Group Polly Payne gave evidence on rail issues including rail franchising, rail fares and compensation schemes and accessibility of train stations.

In Parliament, Huw asked the Health and Social Care Minister what steps the department was taking to improve care for people with autism.

I regret that I cannot bring you a meaningful update because, like you, I am waiting for talks to conclude between the Government and representatives from the Leader of the Opposition.

I recently participated in the debate on climate change in the House of Commons. This is a vitally important topic, but we must recognise the progress the UK has already made. I noted that we have reduced emissions by 44% since the 1990s, leading the other G20 nations.