It seems like yesterday that we were preparing for Christmas and now here we are well into 2017.
It won’t be long before people start booking their holidays abroad. Many of you will seek out some spring or summer hot weather.
We all know the world is a bit unstable at the moment and that is why I, as Security Minister, visited Egypt and Morocco this week to meet Security Officials and our Embassy staff.
These men and women work tirelessly to minimise the risks to British travellers. Thousands of U.K. Citizens visit the two countries each year and we do all we can to make sure hotels and local Police have sufficient support and plans in place to protect and prepare their visitors.
Life in Westminster continues to be busy with the general day-to-day business associated with Parliament. As a North West MP, I take the responsibility to champion the region very seriously and am always keen to work with other MPs to represent the area. We have different challenges in this part of the world and as I tell my southern colleagues often, one size does not fit all.
In the constituency, I continue with my local surgeries, recently having one at Wyre Council Offices. In order to service this area effectively, I try to alternate between the offices at Great Eccleston, Poulton and Garstang, with the view that most people can get to these locations.
I was pleased to have the opportunity to visit the local Police who cover the Wyre area recently. I met the Officers who were involved in the incident in early November last year, when an Officer was attacked by a man with a knife in Cleveleys.
I spoke to the Officer who was injured and I am pleased to report he is well on the mend. I never underestimate the risk to Police Officers or the dangerous job they do on a day-to day-basis. It was great to speak informally to Officers and I will take a few points back with me to Westminster.
Driving around the area, I continue to be concerned about the state of many roads. I am pleased to see that the Government have recently pledged over £1.7m to help fix Lancashire’s roads as part of a pothole fund. The challenge is ensuring the money is spent in the areas most in need and I would argue very strongly that many rural roads in Over Wyre are in great need of repair.
My mail bag continues to be full of both national and local issues. Please do not hesitate to drop me a line to highlight an issue or to pass on your opinion. I firmly believe that the more opinions I receive, the better I can represent the constituency.
If I can be of any assistance to you please ring my Office at the House of Commons on 02072 195 804 or my Constituency Office on (01995) 672977, email me at [email protected] or write to me at the House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.
Ben Wallace MP