Last week was World Autism Awareness Week, which is an important campaign to help raise awareness about autism. To mark the occasion I visited Café Track in the Market Square, Northampton which helps some 40-50 people on the autistic spectrum.

In my nearly 9 years as the Member of Parliament for Northampton North and indeed the 3.5 years before my election when I was the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate I have always ensured that I regularly campaign on the ground with the local issues that matter most to residents of Northampton N

English Tourism Week is an annual celebration – which took place this year between Saturday, 30th March and Sunday, 7th April - that showcases the world-class sites and experiences that England has to offer tourists from all over the UK and all around the world.

On Thursday, 28th March I joined Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex who hosted a reception at St. James’s Palace for participants of the Commonwealth Eye Health Consortium.

In June 2016 the people of this country voted to leave the European Union, and in the 2017 General Election the British public voted in MPs from both main parties on a promise to deliver on this.

On Friday, 15th March there was an appalling and murderous gun attack on a Mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand in which fifty people were killed. This attack on innocent worshipers at prayer has caused understandable shock, upset and concern in the UK and around the world.

In my role as the Minister for Arts, Heritage and Tourism I am in regular contact with the Chairs and CEO’s of national organisations which promote the arts.

I have been working with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to make the country’s tourist spots more accessible to people with disabilities or health conditions.

On Thursday, 23rd June 2016 over 17.4 million people in this country voted to leave the European Union. The referendum was the biggest democratic exercise in the country. In the Borough of Northampton 58.4% voted Leave.

For several years I have worked with Lakeview Residents Association and Northampton Partnership Homes (NPH) seeking the conversion of an empty former nursing home into the development of new council homes – to specifically cater for elderly people. This has now been realised.