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It was with great sadness that I learnt of the passing of Sir Richard Shepherd on Monday 21 February 2022. Sir Richard was very kind and helpful to me when I first entered Parliament and during our five years as neighbouring MPs. He served a magnificent thirty-six years in Parliament. 

Negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between the UK and India were formally launched in January 2022. On Tuesday 22 February 2022 I attended a debate on the negotiations in Westminster Hall. I said: “I take issue with one or two of the points that the hon. Gentleman has made.

I have tabled the following Early Day Motion ahead of this year’s World Book Day, EDM 959: “That this House congratulates World Book Day on celebrating its 25th Anniversary on 3 March 2022; commends its success in distributing 15 million book tokens annually in places of education;

I met with representatives from the GMB Union at an event in Parliament on Tuesday 22 February 2022.

The Skills and Post-16 Education Bill seeks to reform these areas of education. Measures include allowing Employer Representative Bodies for an area to create Local Skills Improvement Plans. On Monday 21 February 2022 I voted on the Bill at Report Stage.