THE act of remembrance held last Sunday marks the debt we all owe to those who have fought or are still fighting for our country. Continuing threats from terrorism, the war in Iraq and the commitments of our troops in Afghanistan all mean that the work of our Armed Forces is never out of the news.

  • SERVICES to support adults with learning difficulties in Basingstoke have undergone enormous upheaval in recent months.

Hampshire County Council faces a £12million overspend in this area. Indeed, nine out of 10 local authorities are short of money to deliver much-needed services such as day care and respite. Rightly, we ensure that children who have severe learning difficulties have access to education and support services throughout their childhood. Yet when they reach adulthood, that support evaporates when needs remain the same. Is this really joined-up Government?

  • THE Parliamentary year (which was, this time, 18 months long!) ended on November 8 with a ceremony called Prorogation. It is at this point that all those Bills, which have been agreed to democratically, receive Royal Assent. It serves to remind us of the mountain of law now passed by Parliament every single year.

November 15 is the start of our new year and the Queen's Speech will present a shopping list of proposed new laws and regulations that the Government feels are vital to the smooth-running of the country. Wouldn't we all be shocked if the Government proposed removing legislation rather than adding to it?

  • CALL Maria at the House of Commons on 0207 219 5749, e-mail miller@parliament.uk or write to her at The House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.