At today’s Prime Minister’s Questions, I asked about investment in transport infrastructure and action on climate change in light of the flooding in the South West.

In a Westminster Hall debate yesterday, I spoke about the importance of funding for arts in the regions.

George Downs, Member of the Youth Parliament for East and Mid Devon, has released a statement on behalf of UK Youth Parliament Devon regarding the cuts to youth services in Devon:

In the House of Commons yesterday, I asked the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about flood defences in Exeter.

At yesterday’s Foreign and Common Office Questions, I asked the Secretary of State about the Common Fisheries Policy.

There is growing and justified alarm in Exeter about the planning “free for all” taking place over the city boundary in East Devon and Teignbridge. This is being felt particularly acutely in Pinhoe and Alphington, where developers have put in proposals for thousands of new homes on East Devon and Teignbridge land just over the Exeter boundary. Our city council has no power to stop these developments and, because neither East Devon nor Teignbridge yet have their local plans in place, developers are more or less free to do what they want in those areas.

At Church Commissioners questions yesterday I asked about the Pilling Report’s recommendations on the recognition of same-sex relationships by the Church of England.

I regularly get requests from constituents for me to sign what are called Early Day Motions (EDMs) of the House of Commons. I write back explaining why I don’t sign EDMs. This is what I say:

Quite rightly, following the expenses scandal, MPs no longer have any say over their pay and conditions, so it is up to IPSA, the independent body responsible, to justify any decisions it makes, but I have always made clear that if they do impose an above inflation rise after the election, and I am still an MP, I would give any extra to charity.

As a former Marine and Fisheries Minister, I have followed the painstaking process of designating Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) with great interest. The long overdue announcement last week that 27 MCZs would be designated in English Seas was hailed by the Government as a seminal moment for our marine environment.