Tuesday 1 December 2009 Well it is high time I started my blog, so here goes.  Had a good day in the Commons today with a visit from the Blackburn with Darwen PCT who were shortlisted for a Health Service Journal award, but sadly did not win.  However, they did really well to be shortlisted and came into the Commons for a tour of Parliament with me and drinks on the terrace afterwards.  My grateful thanks to Cllr Marie Gibbons, Mayor of Whitworth, who, under her other hat working for the PCT, fronted the visit.

That left yours truly in the Commons until about 8pm for European and other business, and then free to go.  Hurrah!  Early night!

Earlier in the day I participated in an interesting meeting with the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee, of which I am a member, and the Business Innovation and Skills commitee where we questioned Ofcom.  They told us of their wish to introduce emergency mobile roaming on mobile phones.  This is really important for us.  I recall the blizzards last winter when I was travelling from Bacup to Burnley for a friend's funeral; cars were abandoned all over the place and none of us could get a signal on our mobile phones.  So it fell to me to keep going and get in touch with the police once I was back in signal mode. If Ofcom can sort this for us, then good for them. And another thing. How dare Lancashire County Council remove some of our grit bins? Have they any idea what winter is like in the Rossendale Valley? This is a fight on which we will not give up easily.