MUCH has happened in Westminster in the last week.

I have taken part in several divisions voting with the Opposition on amendments to give foot and mouth disease a higher priority in the Queen's Speech, but then voting with the Government on the speech itself.

The Queen's Speech, as far as it goes, contains much that people will want and I could see no point in voting against it.

The object now is to make sure the promises and aims within the gracious speech are actually fulfiled regarding health, education and policing.

Otherwise my time at Westminster has been spent with mounds of correspondence, going to introductory meetings and a series of lectures from scientists on the current state of foot and mouth disease.

I have met Professor Darzi who is chairing the independent inquiry into elective surgery at Kidderminster. Very naturally, he wishes to conduct his study without the pressures from frequent press attention.

He has promised to meet me again soon.

I have also had an exploratory meeting about the possibility of setting up an all-party group to look into the problems faced by local hospitals across the UK.

At home, I was able to visit Trimpley Sailing club where the police had organised a splendid event visited by 1,400 children, to instruct them in the risks they face in ordinary life.

I was impressed by the interest of the children and the enthusiasm of the instructors.

Children were caught out by "abductors" not wearing the obligatory badge, which I think would have taught them a very real lesson. I was photographed watching a child performing the manoeuvre to dislodge a lump of food stuck in the windpipe of a realistic, but leg-less, model.

One of the best answers I heard from a small boy being asked about the effects of alcohol as a drug was that alcohol makes your legs heavy so you fall over!

I also attended the instructive Bewdley Floods Fair, organised by Gill Holland of the Bewdley Floods Committee, and was delighted to learn that the demountable barrier and underground flood defences for Severnside North are ready to go and only now depend on planning approval.

The weekend concluded with a gorgeous evening at Bewdley Cricket Club watching the final of their six-a-side tournament and then presenting the cup to the winning team from Horwath Clark Whitehill.

I start my surgeries this week on Friday afternoons. Please telephone 01562 753333 for the locations and an appointment.