This week is Parliament Week – a nationwide initiative spotlighting our democracy and encouraging people of all ages to engage with politics.

I visited the Island Free School to talk with Year 7 pupils about the importance of democracy and how Parliament works.

Their questions showed genuine curiosity about how rules and decisions are made.

It reminded me that my own political interest was sparked when a former Island MP – Peter Brand – visited my school quite a few years ago!

Last week, I visited Shanklin Youth Club with Alex Lightfoot (Mayor of Sandown) and had the pleasure of judging a fancy dress costume competition.

The youth club was set up in the 1960s when Richard Priest was a youngster, and he was part of the team that revived it in the 1990s, and it is still going strong with his support today.

I met with the representatives from the community-driven initiative Men Only during a Bembridge v Ventnor football game to show my support for improving men’s mental health.

Part of my work with the Health and Social Care Committee is to better understand the challenges facing community mental health for men and women of all ages in order to make recommendations to Government in the spring.

I also visited the Hats Off to Sandown exhibition at Quay Arts to celebrate Sandown Carnival’s regatta hat revival and saw some wonderful creative talent on display.

On the Health Select Committee, we wrote to Wes Streeting, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to express concerns about the impact of increasing employers’ National Insurance contributions for GP practices, hospices, and social care providers.

We are awaiting a response about what support he will put in place to alleviate the pressures arising from the Chancellor’s recent budget.

Together with Richard Quigley and Liz Jervis (MP for Eastleigh), I wrote to the local Integrated Care Board (ICB) to ask for a meeting and assurances that they will commit to proper ongoing funding for Mountbatten. We must ensure the quality of care that Mountbatten provides can continue.

Ahead of Small Business Saturday on December 7, I am launching a business survey to understand the challenges faced by local businesses.

Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, and their insights will guide my work in Parliament.

If you are a business owner, please participate via my website – your feedback is invaluable.

Finally, I am pleased to report that I have been appointed as a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) for the Shadow Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

This role involves holding the Government to account on issues like online safety, arts funding, support for tourism, and support for local charities and youth services.