Jon Pearce: Back to business in Westminster

With the kids back at school, it feels like summer is officially over. For many families, September brings the familiar pressures of new uniforms, shoes, books and everything else that comes with the new school year.

That is why I am pleased that we are taking action to help bring down some of these costs. New limits on expensive branded school uniform items are now in place, alongside the expansion of free school meals and breakfast clubs. For families already feeling the squeeze, these changes will a real difference.

It is back to Parliament for me too, after an incredibly busy summer recess. Much of my time over the past few months has been focused on the devastating wildfires we saw across High Peak and the wider country, and my campaign to ban disposable barbecues.

So, when I returned to Westminster, I took my first opportunity at Prime Minister’s Questions to raise the issue directly with the Prime Minister. I made it clear that we have to face the reality that our climate is changing and make sure the country is properly prepared to prevent and tackle wildfires in the years ahead.

I was incredibly grateful to the Prime Minister for recognising the work I have been doing on this issue and for inviting me to attend the National Wildfires Summit he is calling. This is an important opportunity to bring together those on the frontline, experts and government to look at what more we can do to prevent these fires and make sure our emergency services have the resources they need to respond when they happen.

I also met with firefighters from the Fire Brigades Union to thank them for everything they have done, both locally and nationally, to keep communities safe. Having seen first-hand the scale of some of the fires in High Peak this summer, I know just how important their work is. I will continue to push for firefighters to have the equipment, resources and aerial support they need.

Wildfires inevitably dominated much of my first week back, but I also took the opportunity to raise another issue I know matters to people across High Peak: access to face-to-face banking.

When the last banks in Glossop and Buxton closed, we worked hard to secure banking hubs in both towns to ensure people could continue to access cash and essential banking services. But speaking to residents, it became clear that people want more than somewhere to withdraw money. They want the ability to sit down with someone face-to-face, talk through their finances, understand their statements and get help with their banking.

Not everyone is confident using online banking or wants to deal with an automated telephone service. That is why, in Parliament, I called on the Government to review the criteria for banking hubs so that access to face-to-face banking is properly considered, not just access to cash. I also hope this can give us a renewed opportunity to make the case for a banking hub in central High Peak.

I ended my first week back by paying tribute in Parliament to the incredible charities and volunteers who do so much to make High Peak such a fantastic place to live. I was proud to follow this up when I returned home by hosting over 100 local volunteers at an afternoon event at Chapel Town Hall.