The current news arena is dominated by two massive stories: the appalling massacres in Paris; and the pressures on NHS accident and emergency departments. The tragedy in Paris is an important story - especially its implications for the free press and our right to free expression. However, whilst it is of enormous importance to our own security, I rather suspect that the issues regarding our own NHS in Worcestershire is of more immediate concern to local residents in Wyre Forest.
Over the last four years I have been working to reduce the premium we pay locally for our petrol and diesel. Local fuel retailers regularly charge 7 pence more for petrol in Kidderminster, Stourport or Bewdley than they charge in Bromsgrove or Birmingham. There are various reasons why this happens and a less than thorough investigation was conducted into fuel pricing by the Office of Fair Trading a couple of years ago. That investigation came to the conclusion that there was no cartel operating with the retailers, but it failed completely to shine the light of transparency on the road fuel market. This means that we do not properly know why we pay these premiums locally, or the huge premiums that we pay in motorway service stations.
Ever since the previous government devolved powers to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, there has been a quiet, steady and justifiable sense of unease from the English that their interests are not being fairly governed. However, since the Scottish independence referendum and the promise of more devolved powers to the three other countries making up the United Kingdom, this sense of unease has been growing - and growing quickly.
Mark Garnier welcomes investment into Wyre Forest to tackle homelessness, especially in young people. On the 9th of December the Government announced that £15 million pounds of investment would go towards providing long term housing, employment and educational support for 600 of the country's most vulnerable homeless people aged between 18 and 24. They have called it the Fair Chance Fund and it will be funded through social impact bonds. The announcement also comes alongside the similarly funded £8 million Help for Single Homeless Fund. This will benefit 22,000 homeless people nationwide.
Figures released today by the Office for National Statistics show that the number of unemployed claimants in Wyre Forest in November was 963 which represents 2.1% of the economically active population.
From time to time I shadow public sector workers to see how they do their jobs. All are fascinating and I've shadowed teachers, firemen, members of the armed forces and, for the second time, last Saturday night I shadowed one of our Safer Neighbourhood Officers, looking after our town centres.
The NHS Trusts in Worcestershire and Worcestershire County Council are spearheading a national initiative to make healthcare more personalised, and more effective through integrating council and NHS services. This is known as the "Well Connected Programme", and is part of the wider Better Care Fund.
From time to time I go to events that are truly inspirational. Last week I went to the Worcestershire Apprentice Awards at the West Midlands Safari Park. This celebrated the achievements of apprentices across the county and it was fantastic to see how they had achieved so much.
