I welcome Newcastle Borough Council’s scrutiny inquiry into the Walley’s Quarry landfill.

Since my election I have met with local campaigners, with the Environment Agency (EA) following publication of their report, and with Red Industries.

I was delighted to be elected to the Science & Technology Select Committee today.

This Committee exists "to ensure that Government policy and decision-making are based on good scientific and engineering advice and evidence."

Monday was a very exciting day, because it was the first day for the majority of my new staff. I have one member of staff assisting me in London, and the rest are staffing my shop / office in Newcastle.

It was great to welcome Jane, Joanne & Daniel from Newcastle College to Parliament to celebrate their nomination for “Promoting Apprenticeships campaign of the Year” - and I wish them all the best for the awards in March!

Former Liberal Democrat councillor Ian Wilkes has joined the Conservative Party, on the day that the UK left the European Union.

I was delighted to meet with Ian in Audley, to welcome him to the Conservative Party and to talk about his priorities for our area.

My week in Westminster began with the exceptionally moving National Ceremony marking Holocaust Memorial Day (pictured), which including contributions from both those who survived the Nazi Holocaust, and also those who survived later genocides such as Srebrenica.

Again I am writing from the train home as we pull into Watford Junction!

Two new sculptures have been unveiled at Audley Methodist Church to mark the 125th anniversary of the Diglake mine disaster, which claimed 77 lives. A memorial walk and service was observed by local people to commemorate the occasion.

The 1st Newcastle Brownies Pack are the oldest continuously-existing Pack in the area and one of the oldest in the country. I was very pleased to attend the open day at St. Giles' in celebration of their 100th anniversary.

As I head back home, the train journey gives me a chance to reflect on a very busy week in Westminster. The House considered the text of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill throughout the last three days, and I was personally delighted to vote for it this afternoon at Third Reading.