I’m sure most of us associate Walker’s Crisps with Leicester legend, Gary Lineker but last week I met with the people who do the real work to bring these products to our supermarket and corner shop shelves.

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.

The Shama Women’s Centre in Highfields is a brilliant organisation that provides services and support to women throughout Leicester.

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.

I recently met a group of youth and community development students from De Montfort University, who came to visit the Houses of Parliament as part of their studies in social policy and politics. We had a lively discussion about the future of youth services, and how students and young people can get involved in the democratic process and make sure their voices are heard.

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.