The recommendation from the Boundary Committee for the new unitary authority was a huge disappointment for everyone – the meeting between all Norfolk and Suffolk MP’s and the committee resulted in 100% condemnation from all MP’s.

The one positive aspect that came out was that the committee agreed that there was a strong case for combining Great Yarmouth and Waveney (Lowestoft) authorities but were worried that both the local Conservative controlled councils had “very weak political leadership” Both Bob Blizzard, MP for Waveney and myself are continuing through the consultation to prove the case for a joint authority between Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

The recent visit from Environment Minister Phil Woolas to Somerton and Scratby gave some comfort to residents following the Natural England report. It was clear that after seeing the areas and the devastation that would happen should the area be flooded, along with the northern coastal villages suffering from the erosion of the cliffs he had no hesitation in accepting that positive action needed to be taken. I am pleased that the Minister came to Norfolk and took the time to see for himself our vulnerable coastline.

It was good to once again welcome the local electronics group ANGLE, to the House of Commons for their annual reception, this being the 12^th one I have hosted. It was a great event and this year included many other industries from the area. My thanks to Stephanie Pimlott from Great Yarmouth Borough Council for co-ordinating the event.

Locally, it was once again a busy month with the opening of the latest Sure Start centre, serving Gorleston and Hopton. The day was indeed a fun day at the Cliff Park First School whose premises were used for the launch of the new centre based at Gorleston library. The Government’s pledge to have a Sure Start centre in every community is now complete and the feedback from all concerned is that they are having a positive effect.

Other activities through the month included supporting the Newtown Youth Centre Project, which is being pursued by Carl Harding and other organisations but was started by the late Ray Higgleton some 15 years ago.

Along with the Mayor, Terry Easter I also attended the start of the Relay for Life on behalf of the cancer research charity and organised by Victoria Bower and family. The event was held over 20 hours and raised in excess of £15, 000. Congratulations to the organisers and of course everyone who took part in this very worthy cause.

On the 18^th July, I opened a new resource centre at Great Yarmouth and Waveney Mind on Caister Road, which incorporates the environmental project Woodcraft . Both will no doubt be well used and it was great to see users and staff at the event with some examples of their work. I would suggest a visit to their shop to see some of the handcrafted goods made from recycled wood.

As a supporter of Yare Hospice and Palliative Care East charities, I am pleased at the level of support that the public has shown. Both are moving at a pace and just recently, I opened the new Yare Hospice shop in Gorleston High Street and was presented a cheque from the care home staff based at Wherry Way. It is clear both projects are well on the way to a successful outcome.

Having been at the forefront of the campaign to protect Yarmouth as the base for many of the civil servants jobs, one other issue that I was happy to give my support to was that of the Coastguard Service which is also based at Havenbridge House. There are clear grounds for their case for parity with other emergency service control room staff in pay and conditions and I recently joined a number of staff on their picket line.

Having started the long summer recess it is usually the case as MP’s that we are told that we are on our “long holidays”. For many it is the case that the recess is usually an ideal opportunity to get out and about in the constituency, as I will be doing throughout the summer months.

Finally, readers will be aware of my view that as an MP, the job itself is a full time position and I believe that there should be no other outside paid work. Therefore, I was pleased to see that the Government is now looking at this option.