I SUFFERED one of the aggravations of parliamentary life earlier this week when I sat through the whole of a debate for over five hours without a break and was not called to speak.

Not only was five hours totally lost but also more time in actual preparation.

This exemplifies one of the frustrations of being an MP. Perhaps as an Independent I have been extremely lucky so far as this was the first time that I have failed to catch the Speaker's eye!

At home things have been more satisfactory. I was very pleased to open the new training centre at Thomas Vale in Stourport which has been made possible by a true partnership between Vale, Kidderminster College and Learn Direct.

This will provide up to 500 individuals with training via the internet for a very wide range of skills necessary in the construction industry.

Many of us have suffered at the hands of insufficiently trained workers in the construction industry and this is a splendid combined effort to enhance training across the industry and hence improve consumer satisfaction.

We are very lucky to have a firm of the repute and vision of Thomas Vale in Stourport.

The Christmas tradition was maintained at the Three Kings Parade in Kidderminster town centre last Saturday.

The costumes were stunning. Children were involved in the procession and in a fancy dress competition, all of which added to the colour and spectacle for the crowds of shoppers.

I was privileged to present the prizes at Bewdley High School. Apart from the achievements of all the prize winners, the most striking part of the evening was the performance of the school's young saxophonist, Tom Leaper, who excelled in the Young Musician of the Year Competition and delighted the audience with two solos accompanied with skill and sympathy by Cassie Barbour.

A meeting of the All Party Local Hospital Group held last week reminded me of a report from the Registrar from the Royal College of Physicians.

This confirmed, as we have said, that the college has often been blamed for the downgrading of our hospital.

The registrar wrote "the name of the college has been used by managers when it suits them to close or rebadge hospitals when we would have been delighted to work with them to find more acceptable solutions." So the college is on our side after all!

I am now looking forward with keen anticipation to the Christmas Holiday. I do hope that all families and friends can get together to make it the loveliest festival of the year, remembering that the true message of Christmas is one of love.