Last week, I had the amazing experience of skydiving from 15,000 feet for Shooting Star Children’s Hospices. You can see some photos of the jump here, and a video on my Facebook page here.
 
Shooting Star Children’s Hospices does vital work, supporting hundreds of families in Surrey (including in Elmbridge) and London in unimaginably difficult circumstances.
 
I’m very grateful for all the support I’ve received over the last few months – exceeding the £20,000 fundraising target, with over £25,000 raised so far for this inspirational charity. Every contribution will make a real difference.
 
My JustGiving page is still open, here. If you’re able, Shooting Star Children’s Hospices and I would hugely appreciate any further support.
 
In other local news this month:

• I held a successful drop-in surgery at Sainsbury’s in Cobham, meeting and chatting to residents about local and national issues.
   
• The Conservative Group on Elmbridge Borough Council was successful in urging the Lib Dem and Residents’ Association-controlled administration to offer a final collection of garden waste for residents, after the council suspended the service without warning.
   
• I was out and about across Elmbridge – supporting a great fundraiser for the new Claygate Community Pool, joining the opening of the new kitchen at the Claygate Youth and Community Hub, discussing politics with pupils at Esher College, and visiting Air Products in Hersham – hearing about how a major international project is benefitting our local economy.

During my first full month in my new role at the Ministry of Justice, I’ve been focussing on measures to cut crime, reduce reoffending and protect the public.
 
First up, I launched the new Legal Year at Westminster Abbey (pictured above), thanking our judges for keeping the justice system running during the pandemic.
 
Later in the month:

• At Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, I announced £180m of funding to expand the use of tags to cut burglary and theft and keep people safe from domestic abusers. I also announced up to £93m to increase the community work undertaken by offenders to eight million hours per year.
   
• On 21 October, I hosted a prison leavers’ employment summit, looking at how offenders can plug skills gaps in our economy. This followed a series of meetings with employers and visits to prisons to see what is already being done in this area. Hiring ex-offenders is a smart way to help businesses deal with staff shortages, offers offenders a second chance to turn their lives around, and is critical to our plan to cut crime and protect the public. This is a key priority of mine as Justice Secretary.

• I visited HMP High Down, seeing how X-ray body scanners stop illegal items entering prisons. In just over a year, this game-changing technology has stopped 10,000 attempts to smuggle contraband including drugs, weapons and phones into prisons.

• Earlier this week, the Chancellor outlined a Budget and Spending Review to deliver a stronger economy for the British people and for Elmbridge. There were measures to raise incomes and cut the cost of living, including increasing the National Living Wage and freezing fuel and alcohol duties. Businesses will continue to receive support with a business rates cut of over £7bn, and there’s more funding for schools, policing, the NHS and local road maintenance. I’ve explained more about the measures here.
   
• The NHS and the Department of Health and Social Care set out an important blueprint for improving patients’ access to GP appointments, including a £250m winter access fund for GP practices. I’ll be working with local practices to ensure that residents see the benefits of this.
   
• The UK agreed a historic trade deal with New Zealand. This will cut red tape for businesses, end tariffs on UK exports and create new opportunities for tech and services companies, while making it easier for UK professionals to live and work in New Zealand.