The main event in many of my constituent's lives in the past week has been the flooding seen across Loughborough and the Soar Valley. Having your home or business flooded is devastating.
When it happens more than once in quick succession and the end result is that you have to leave your home or lose stock, the financial and emotional effects are enormous.
I would like to thank everyone who stepped in to help those affected last week.
The Environment Agency, Emergency Services and local authorities all worked around the clock last weekend.
But it is also right to recognise all the neighbours and others who stepped in to help each other and to provide food, comfort and practical help such as unblocking drains and the grilles in the brooks.
I know there is enormous frustration and anger when it is felt that at least some of the flooding could have been prevented if debris had been removed in good time.
Having spoken to the Environment Agency last weekend about the immediate help it could give, I am now speaking to it about how we try to prevent future problems.
In the Commons this week, the Secretary of State for Food and Rural Affairs said he was determined to see a deal done with the insurance industry to support those who are not able to insure their properties without assistance and also to work with local authorities on flood defence schemes.
I shall continue to speak to ministers about both issues.
I know that energy bills cause a huge amount of concern for my constituents.
I am therefore delighted that the Government is taking action to ensure people will get the lowest tariffs for their energy bills as the Government has announced plans to force energy suppliers to offer their customers the best deals.
Under these proposals, households will no longer face hundreds of tariffs, with energy companies limited to four tariffs per fuel.
Energy companies will have to make bills simpler for customers to understand and outline personalised information on the cheapest tariff they can offer.
Households will be moved on to the cheapest tariff under their supplier that suits them.
In the meantime, I would urge anyone who is concerned about staying warm to call the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99 or visit the website at:
www.homeheathelpline.org.uk
It is a free, independent service which helps people to find out whether they are eligible for help.
About 10 per cent of households in Loughborough are entitled to some form of assistance with their fuel bills, which on average can be worth £160.
People have nothing to lose from calling the helpline and, potentially, a lot to gain.
Finally, my workload was a little lighter last Friday when I was joined by teenager Louis Bartlett for the day.
Louis, a sixth-form student at Charnwood College, shadowed me for the day as part of the Children's Commissioner Takeover Day 2012. The day started early with a meeting at Charnwood College about youth employment and careers, then moved on to meet residential students at the RNIB College, Loughborough.
Then we paid a visit to 3DX-Ray, in Sileby.
The company produces industrial and security machinery and exports around the globe.
Louis then attended a meeting at my constituency office before going to another at North Warwickshire College.
Throughout, he helped me by asking useful questions and provided insight through his own experiences. It was great to have his input.
