It has been busy start to the year, with a number of meetings taking place in Westminster with Ministerial colleagues to discuss important issues on behalf of my constituents. 

One of the main concerns I have heard from local parents is the availability and cost of childcare. We are fortunate to have many fantastic nurseries and childminders in Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, but it should be a priority for the Government to build on existing tax-free childcare and free hours to enable every local child access these facilities. Following the visit of the Children’s Minister, Claire Coutinho to Harefield Infant School in December, I was pleased to meet with her at Downing Street to continue this discussion and to highlight the importance of improving this policy and addressing these challenges, and how the Government can support this.

Ahead of the Spring Budget in March, I joined London MPs in a meeting with the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt for the opportunity to raise the key concerns of constituents. Many important issues were raised by colleagues, and my particular focus was on the impact of the ULEZ expansion on the London economy and car-dependent older and disabled residents, which the Chancellor fully understood. I will continue to engage with Ministerial colleagues on these issues ahead of the Spring Budget in March. 

Lastly, I also attended a meeting in Downing Street with a Special Advisor to the Prime Minister this month. We spoke about the Government's upcoming proposals on stopping Channel crossings and people smugglers. I emphasised that we need a system that works for the residents of Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, which must include safe and legal routes for genuine refugees combined with a tough response against those who seek abuse and undermine our asylum system. I await any further announcements on this policy.