Whilst energy bills go through the roof, the pensioners winter fuel bonus is due to be cut. I am demanding that the Chancellor reverses this most sickening of cuts in his budget statement next Tuesday. The winter bonus, meant to help cover heating costs, will be £50 lower for the over 60s and £100 lower for the over 80s. I voted to re-instate this on Wednesday, but the motion was defeated.

It is extraordinary that pensioners are to receive this cut during the very winter when energy prices will hit a record high.  How many pensioners will die because of fuel poverty if we have a hard winter?

Evoenergy, based in Nottingham have had to make 30 people redundant as a result of the feed in tariffs for solar panel energy being cut. Smaller businesses, including in Bassetlaw are in danger of going under because of this sudden change.

It is illogical and damaging to the economy, as well as to the environment. There is an indisputable green case for such technology, but the economic argument is equally strong. Why rely on Russian gas and be at the mercy of the energy giants as they push up prices, when solar Panels and other alternative energies can bring down bills hugely and permanently?

The scheme should be greatly expanded, not cut, including allowing all large buildings to benefit, including churches and similar public amenities.  There should be more help, not less, in putting in solar panels. This country, its people and its businesses  cannot afford to see energy prices continue to rocket upwards and it is time that government got a grip.

It is rumoured that the government is to allow a number of capital building projects to go ahead across the country, so I have been busy lobbying for new schools and other resources for our area. I can think of quite a number of primary schools that need work on them and in some cases new builds, whilst Serlby Park School remains the one antiquated secondary school building that we have.  I support these projects going ahead as soon as possible in order to get construction workers back to work and help restart our flagging economy.