This week all eyes have been on Westminster for the Budget, which as Deputy Speaker I get to Chair part of. However it has also been Parliament Week, an annual event which sees schools and youth groups hold events to try to raise awareness about the importance of our democratic institutions.
I was pleased on Wednesday to welcome students from Portsmouth Grammar School to come and watch the “Turning of the Page” ceremony, which is Parliament’s weekly act of Remembrance of those who gave their lives in the Great War. Every Wednesday a Member reads out a page from our Book of Remembrance, and I was pleased there were Hampshire students present to participate.
Last week, so slightly ahead of Parliament Week, I visited the 2nd Woodley and Crampmoor Brownies at Woodley Village Hall. They were amazing and asked a massive range of questions, that were really well informed. I also had a chat with some of the Guides about their citizenship lessons at school, where the Pink Tax has been high on the agenda for some. This week I am off to Halterworth Primary School where I am sure to encounter some more great questions about the role of Parliament.
Having written this ahead of the Budget debate I am very obviously steering clear of making predictions, but I have no doubt we will be in for some stormy debates in Parliament over the Chancellor’s statement. Of course, in the Chair it is imperative I remain absolutely impartial, and enable as many as possible to contribute to the debate whilst remaining “in order”. That is not always an easy task, and I wish MPs could always behave as well as the Brownies I met last week!
After the slightly damp start to Christmas with the lights switch on last week, I am looking forward to the Abbey Christmas Fair and the Lantern Parade this weekend. Hopefully the rain will hold off and we will all be back in the Market Place for a festive evening on Saturday.