THIS week all MPs returned from their constituencies for this new term in Parliament – the first for a long time without virtual participation and coronavirus policies.

It will be a very big learning curve for many of we newer MPs who haven’t experienced Parliament much outside of the pandemic, and I am looking forward to getting started.

The Elections Bill had its Second Reading in Parliament this week. This Bill is a really important piece of legislation that will do a lot to protect and strengthen our democracy. The issue that we face at the moment is that the law as it stands hasn’t necessarily caught up with modern issues.

The Online Safety Bill does many things, but one of the core bits is to legislate that certain media and internet companies must pay due attention to the risk of harm content on their sites might have on children and others.

Earlier this week I chaired the All-Party Parliamentary Group on South Western Railway, and we had SWR and Network Rail come and speak to MPs about the upcoming timetable changes.

After working on the railways for twenty years before I was elected, I always want to use my experience to help get the best possible train service for people in West Dorset. I am particularly pressing for a return to decent and frequent service between Dorchester and London so that we in Dorset can remain well connected to the capital.

At the time of writing this column, the debates on Universal Credit National Insurance and Social Care had not yet taken place in Parliament, so rather than speculate, I’ll offer you a write up next week on what has taken place and my views accordingly.

CHRIS LODER

WEST DORSET MP