This week was Estimates week in Parliament as MPs prepare for the forthcoming budget.
For my part, I used this as an opportunity to have meetings with senior colleagues and set out my thoughts on what should be in the budget - this included a round-table meeting with fellow Greater Manchester MPs and the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Michael Gove.
We were all clear that devolution is currently moving too fast and that the Mayor must be better held to account than he currently is before any more powers are transferred.
This week also saw International Women's Day so I used a question at PMQs to ask the PM if he backed efforts to encourage more women into politics. Whilst I don't agree with initiatives like All-Women Shortlisting and so-called "Positive" Discrimination, I do think there is a clear issue getting Parliament to look like the country it serves. When 51% of the population is female, it seems a bit off that only 33% of Parliament is.
Also this week, I met with a constituent at a Parliamentary reception for breast cancer awareness - she and women from all over the country are campaigning to raise awareness of cancer screening and encouraging women to take up tests when they're offered.
I also met with the team at World Kidney Day who similarly were working to raise awareness of this important issue.
As an officer of the APPG on Veterans it was a great privilege to be asked to stand as Vice Chair of the new APPG on Women in Defence, led by Wrexham MP Sarah Atherton who is the only female veteran to have served in Parliament - we'll be working to better understand the challenges facing women in the military and see what we can do to support them.
I rounded off the week with a visit to the Army Air Defence centre at Thorney Island as part of my training with the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme before heading North.
Over the weekend I had my usual meetings with constituents, including a catch up with local green belt groups and a discussion about traffic issues around Junction 19.
Next week promises to be very busy with the budget and a number of Private Members' Bills coming up.
Until then, stay safe and please get in touch if I can help.
