The GAP project is the only one of it’s kind in Leicester that helps young dads alongside young mums. One of the fathers I spoke to told me he is completing an NVQ Level 3 in Painting and Decorating. He said that when he came to the project he was really quiet and introverted but now he feels far more confident and eventually wants to set up his own business.

The GAP Project does vital work supporting young people to become better parents and role models for their children. It also saves taxpayers money in the long run, by helping families find work. It’s a really special project that gets my full support, and I wish all the staff and parents involved every success for the future.

I toured the Walkers factory in Beaumont Leys, which has a long history in Leicester and is now owned by PepsiCo. This is an impressive, high tech operation, which processes around 800 tonnes of potatoes a day, making it the biggest crisp factory in the world. It has six large production lines, each turning out up to three tonnes of crisps an hour.

I met with the company’s Production Manager to discuss the issues that face Walkers in the coming years and to encourage them to employ and support local people. I also welcomed the progress Walkers has made in reducing the fat and salt content of their crisps, because whilst we’re a nation of snack lovers, obesity is a major problem that we all need to do more to address in future.

I will continue to do all I can to work with local employers and to support local jobs.

By offering training opportunities, such as NVQ and ESOL courses, and a range of other services like supporting new mums to breast feed, Shama helps women, particularly from disadvantaged communities, to improve their lives, develop their skills and integrate with the wider community.

I was at the Shama Centre on Friday, talking to the women who use the services, and the staff who provide them. I was particularly impressed by the warm and welcoming in-house crèche, which has been crucial to the Centre’s success.

I am extremely proud, and honoured, to be the patron of the Shama Centre and I look forward to celebrating their 25^th birthday in February next year.

It is really important people know this is their parliament. I want to encourage as many people as possible to visit me in Westminster. So whether you’re part of a group, like the DMU students, or an individual constituent, please contact my office and I will be happy to organise a tour for you.

Photo courtesy of Mark Makela Photography

Last week I had the pleasure of hosting the launch of a report on the impact of Leicester’s 2009 Special Olympic Games. The report, called “Learning Disability, Sport and Legacy”, was produced by De Montfort University and Leicester University. It found that the games not only brought real health benefits to the athletes but social benefits too, such as boosting their self-esteem. The report found that the Special Olympics helped bring disabled and non-disabled people closer together and played an important role in challenging misunderstandings about learning disabilities amongst the wider public. Guests at the launch event also heard that the 2009 Games brought real economic benefits to our city, boosting the local economy with an estimated £2.8 million.

I was delighted that a number of athletes who took part in the Games came along to the launch even in Parliament. I was also pleased that Hugh Robertson MP, the Minister for Sport and the Olympics, agreed to come and speak at the reception. He said he was determined to make sure we build on the lessons from the Special Olympics in all sporting events, but especially in next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The event was attended by politicians, policy makers, ethnic minority businesses and senior executives from companies like ExxonMobil, Merck/MSD, GlaxoSmithKline, PepsiCo, IBM, BT and Enterprise Rent-A-Car, who are all corporate members of MSD UK.

I was really pleased that Gareth Thomas MP, Shadow Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills and Stephen Timms MP, the Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury, attended the event (pictured here with Mayank Shah, from MSD UK). I told them about the vital role that black and minority ethnic businesses play in my constituency, and how I believe we need to do more to help and support these companies create the jobs and growth that our city and country urgently need.

I have met with staff and trade union officials at the Land Registry’s office on Westbridge Place and I have also met with Michael Kavanagh, the PCS Land Registry Group President.

I raised the issue directly with Ken Clarke during a recent Justice Questions. If you are interested in reading my exchange with Mr Clarke you can find it here.

I have also written to Lord McNally, the Minister responsible for the review of the Land Registry, requesting a meeting to discuss the review with him in person. He agreed to meet me in February but cancelled at short notice. I will continue to press for the meeting and to oppose privatisation of the Registry.