This week has been boookended by school visits, albeit one of them being virtual. It was great to meet Year 9 pupils from St George's in Swaythling on Monday afternoon, for a very wide ranging question and answer session. Today (Friday) I am off to Cupernham Junior School to see their new outdoor classroom, which I am sure they are making the most of this Summer Term.
Back in Westminster I spoke this week in the Estimates Day debate on the prison and probation service. Last week I hosted an event for the Open University specifically about the impact of imprisonment on families, so Tuesday's debate was an excellent opportunity to raise with the Minister the findings of the OU research.
I was also privileged to meet the Speaker of the Cypriot Parliament on Tuesday, who is currently on a visit to the UK, and hear about her mission to tackle misogyny. It was also when my Select Committee published its most recent report into sexual harassment, dropping at the same time as a further raft of allegations of inappropriate behaviour in Westminster. I have absolutely no doubt we have to get this House in order, and I am working with colleagues across the House to bring about effective change.
But in happier news it is the Beggars' Fayre this weekend, the town has been yarn bombed for the Romsey Festival, the bunting and the bollards look fantastic and the Romsey Quilters Exhibition in the Abbey is just stunning.
