Parliament has now adjourned for summer recess. It is a useful opportunity to spend more time in South Shropshire, with no legislation passed during this period. To kick it off, I was delighted to meet residents who attended the latest in my ‘Meet Your MP’ series of events. This time, it was held at the Market Hall in Cleobury Mortimer. I also caught up with local representatives from West Mercia Police, who I am working with to keep our communities in South Shropshire safe from crime and anti-social behaviour. I am concerned about crime in rural areas like ours, so I was pleased to receive an update on plans to strengthen local resources.
Having personally experienced childhood bereavement, I am proud to support Bridgnorth funeral director John Adams' inspirational campaign on grief education, which is now being added to the RSHE guidance. I know from my own experience how much of an enduring impact childhood bereavement can have. I also know just how many others in South Shropshire feel the same way, with almost 2,000 having signed his petition. I welcome this necessary change, which will deliver better outcomes for our children, and their families who are dealing with death and grief.
Following its huge success in Bridgnorth, I was delighted to launch my Shop Local campaign in Ludlow. Market towns across South Shropshire have unique strengths and needs for support. My survey seeks to identify these so that I can campaign for funding and support that will enable them to thrive. I was thrilled to receive over a thousand responses to my survey in Bridgnorth and I have already had a similar response in Ludlow. This is all part of my plan to unleash rural prosperity, including by supporting our high streets. I have written to the Chancellor and called for urgent tax reform to support the survival and growth of the hospitality sector, which employs over 3,000 people locally.
Our local pubs are proven spaces for fostering social connection and tackling loneliness, especially in rural areas like South Shropshire. Earlier in the year, I urged Ministers to continue the last Government's support and funding for community ownership. I am disappointed that the Government chose not to reinstate the Community Ownership Fund when it published the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. This scheme provided £150 million to help residents take ownership of locally valued assets at risk of being lost, including The Crown Inn in Newcastle on Clun. With 560 pubs having closed so far this year, I will continue to call for dedicated funding for community ownership and to unleash rural prosperity.
I was delighted to recently complete the final exercise of my involvement with the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme. The scheme aims to foster better quality debate around matters of defence by exposing members of the scheme to first-hand experience of life in the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force. With global tensions high and the potential for the breakout of conflict seeming to grow by the day, it is more important now than ever for our representatives to arm themselves with the knowledge they need to properly defend our country. I will continue to work with colleagues across Parliament to ensure our military has all the support it needs and will push the Government to up defence spending to 3.5% of GDP as soon as possible, with an added 1.5% on defence related spending, in line with NATO targets.
