Remembrance Sunday
I joined hundreds of people in Moreton-in-Marsh on Sunday for the annual Remembrance Parade on the High Street. I alternate between Cirencester and Moreton-in-Marsh – this year it was Moreton’s turn.
I was delighted to join the ever-increasing number of people who attend this service. It was particularly heartening to see so many youngsters, representing the local Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Girl Guides organisations, laying wreaths. In fact, the number of organisations in Moreton-in-Marsh presenting wreaths illustrates the real strength of Moreton’s society.
Moreton-in-Marsh town centre
Poignantly, quite a long list of those who had lost their lives in the two world wars and in combat since were read out so that we would remember them and pray for their families.
Following the parade I attended the usual, friendly gathering at Redesdale Hall. This gave me an opportunity to chat with a number of local families.
I then travelled to a further function at the George Moore Community Centre in Bourton where a short speech from the Squadron Leader reminded us of the increasingly complex task that our brave armed forces face in the 21st century.
To conclude Sunday in the constituency, I attended the consecration of the extension of the graveyard in my home village.
Public Accounts Committee
Since the General Election in June I have been elected to the Public Accounts Committee which holds two major public hearings every week. I am proud to have been appointed as Deputy Chair – the Chair is always an opposition MP.
I chaired my first session on Monday into the Ministry of Justice’s disastrous handling of the electronic tagging system which is now five years overschedule and unnecessarily cost the taxpayer millions of pounds. Those of you who are interested can view the ongoing work of the Public Accounts Committee here.
Parliamentary Question
Last week I raised with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, to get a Brexit deal to protect and support the British automotive sector. Mitsubishi employs over 250 people at its UK headquarters in Cirencester where it oversees the operation of 113 dealerships nationwide.
Shooting and Conservation
Earlier today, as the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Shooting and Conservation, together with my secretariat – the British Association of Shooting and Conservation (BASC) – met with the Minister for Policing and the Fire Services, Nick Hurd MP.
I was pleased to discover that the Cotswolds has the highest number of BASC members of any constituency. We discussed a number of issues, but primarily the need to encourage doctors to cooperate with the police to provide information when people are medically unsuitable to hold a shotgun certificate.
