Support your local small business this Saturday and all the way up to Christmas!

We all know that small businesses are the lifeblood of our local economy - make sure you shop local and support your local small business this Saturday and in the build up to Christmas. Make sure you support your local butchers, high street shops and local bookshops. Remember that the likes of Amazon may be convenient, but internet shopping is really hurting our local shops in Hexham, Ponteland, Prudhoe, Corbridge, Haltwhistle and all across Tynedale.  

The Government has already done much to back small business – since 2010 there are
- 400,000 more small businesses,
- 10,000 start-up loans have been approved
- 1.4m private sector jobs have been created.
- record numbers of apprentices
- cuts to corporation tax
- £2000 off national insurance through the employment allowance
- extended small business rate relief
- increased the annual investment allowance.

The adage remains - use your local shop or lose them. We are all responsible for the support of our local communities. You can start with late night shopping in Bellingham tonight from 5pm.

Hexham General Hospital Flight of the Red Kite Exhibition

If you are visiting the Hospital this month make sure you stop and admire the exhibition that is in the foyer of the building. I will be popping up to see it myself before Christmas having whizzed by it when I was an assistant porter in the hospital recently - there was not much time to stop or dawdle!
More details on their website: www.friendsofredkites.org.uk

Westminster this coming week

First up today is Home Office Questions at 2.30 in the Commons. We are also passing the Mesothelioma Bill through the House of Commons as well. I have represented those who have suffered from the affects of this terrible disease arising out of asbestos poisoning, and am pleased it is the Coalition government that is passing this into law. I am also looking forward to welcoming the Norethumberland team behind local business, Jaspers Dog Treats, who are down in the House of Commons this afternoon for the Ready For Business Awards, of which I will blog more later.
On Tuesday I am also meeting my clinical commissioning group leader and the head of the ambulance trust for meetings, whilst on Thursday we have the Autumn Statement. I have made the case to the Chancellor on several issues in meetings I have had with him, in particular the cost of fuel.
Aside from all this I have several key constituency casework meetings, and a load of Home Office work to do.