This month, Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have published their report into the Oxfordshire Local Area Partnership’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision.

I was relieved to see that the report validates the concerns my colleagues and I have had for some time about the Partnership’s services, and finally recognises the “widespread and systemic failings” of local SEND provision.

It is right that the County Council have accepted full responsibility for their failings. They must now right their wrongs, overhaul their processes and restore confidence in the system. Those seeking help and support from the Council deserve better.

I look forward to reading the priority action plan the Partnership are now obligated to put together. I will be meeting the Chief Executive of Oxfordshire County Council, Dr Martin Reeves, shortly to discuss the next steps in further detail.

It was really useful to sit down with both of the Chief Executives of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board, Dr Meghana Pandit and Dr Nick Broughton, at the Horton.

I used our meeting as an opportunity to discuss investment at the hospital, but also to reiterate the need for us all to work more closely together so that we can make sure the Horton continues to provide excellent care for our families now and for many generations to come.

You can read more about our meeting here.

I have been contacted by a number of constituents about the public consultation on train station ticket offices recently. Earlier this month, I submitted my own response to highlight local concerns about the proposals which you can read in full here.

I visited Mixbury to see the latest HS2 construction work and chair a meeting between HS2 Ltd, EKFB and local residents earlier this month. The village is feeling the full impact of construction activity – from daily noise disturbance to numerous closed roads and rights of way.

Mixbury residents are concerned that HS2 and EKFB are not keeping to their previous undertakings to consult the community on the designs of future rights of way and bridges over the line. This is something I have called for since I was first elected, when local residents and I made representations to the original High Speed Rail Committee in Parliament.

After our meeting, I raised Mixbury’s concerns directly with the HS2 Minister, Huw Merriman. We discussed what can be done to hold HS2 to their promises. It is vital that the impact of construction on residents and our countryside is minimised wherever possible.

I will continue to work with the Minister and local residents to hold HS2 to account.

It was good to visit Cropredy Surgery for a catch-up with partners Dr Catriona Reid and Dr Thomas Holyoake. 

Although we remain in regular contact, it was useful to meet face-to-face to hear more about their experiences and listen to some of their concerns. It is clear that Cropredy have been working extremely hard since the pandemic to provide consistent, high-quality care to all their patients.

I followed up with the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board after our meeting to see what more can be done to support our GPs.

I want to thank farmers in North Oxfordshire and across the country for feeding the nation. Our farmers work all year round, in all weathers to keep us fed, with some of the highest environmental and animal welfare standards in the world.

Earlier this month, I was pleased to join a CLA roundtable with local farmers at Tusmore Park. We had a good discussion on a range of topics including our future farming schemes, food security and rural crime.

The Prime Minister recently outlined his practical and realistic approach to reaching net zero. Being honest about the costs does not mean we are losing our ambition or abandoning commitments. Far from it. We really lead the way on tackling climate change and this will carry on, but now in a sensible way that is still stretching but we can achieve if we try hard.  

Read more about this announcement here.

Every case of suicide is a tragedy many times over which is why I welcomed the publication of a National Suicide Prevention Strategy this month.

Over 100 measures have been outlined in the strategy aimed at saving lives, providing early intervention, and supporting anyone going through a crisis. This includes a new national alert system to notify relevant authorities – like schools, universities, and charities – of emerging methods of suicides and risks, and any required actions that can reduce access or limit awareness.

It is brilliant news that the UK will be joining Horizon Europe. UK scientists, including our world-leading ones in Oxfordshire, will now have access to the world’s largest research and innovation programme on better terms for British taxpayers.

For more information click here.

It was an honour to present before the International Court of Justice this month. I underlined the UK’s commitment to the international rule of law and our steadfast support for ICJ’s role in determining disputes under the Genocide Convention.

To find out more about my visit to The Hague click here.

Government lawyers work on the most complex and sensitive legal issues. I was delighted to host lawyers from the Government Legal Department to celebrate their nominations for the Attorney General’s award for legal excellence at the recent GLD Awards.