It’s hard to believe how quickly this summer has flown by. After the challenges of last year, it has certainly been a much-needed few weeks where we have all been able to enjoy the freedoms we missed so dearly. With Haywards Heath Town Day and Lindfield Village Day still to come, we still have more to look forward to. Parliament sits again next week, and it will be great to get back to working with colleagues across the House to help our country’s continued recovery from the pandemic and help more people upskill and find exciting employment opportunities. Through my Ministerial Role, I have continued working on Kickstart and our ‘Plan For Jobs’ this Summer, which will come into even sharper focus as furlough comes to an end.
It’s been truly awe-inspiring to watch the Paralympics and see so many incredible performances, showing the very best of human perseverance and skill. Our British athletes have been absolutely brilliant, and I just want to single out praise for Dame Sarah Storey who, at the age of 43, became our joint most successful Paralympian after winning her 16th gold medal. She is a sporting icon and one of our greatest ever. Hopefully, there is still plenty of gold, silver and bronze to come for Team GB this week!
Like all parents, I know the return to school after summer is always a big moment for our kids – especially so this year. My colleagues in the DfE have launched their ‘Back to School’ campaign, giving families confidence about the protective measures in educational settings – including testing, ventilation and extra hygiene precautions – and the Government will be providing leaflets, social and digital advertising in the coming days. Maintaining these measures will ensure students can enjoy a more normal academic year – helping them to catch up on any lost learning and receive the education they need and deserve. I wish every student across Mid Sussex well ahead of their return to school.
With the ‘Great Big Green Week’ coming up shortly, I will be visiting the stunning Heaselands Estate to meet the Farm Manager, Charles Burgoyne, coordinated by the National Farming Union. We will be speaking about the challenges agricultural sector faces in Mid Sussex, as well as the benefits of local produce. Additionally, I will be meeting with Rampion 2 to discuss the feedback of their ongoing consultation on expanding the Rampion Wind Farm, to get a deeper understanding of their proposals and the ongoing process. At a time where tackling climate change and investing in green energy is right at the top of the Government’s priority list, is it more important than ever to continue moving towards sustainable sources of energy.