Page 27 - br-January-2018

January 2018 January 2018

NEWS FROM WESTMINSTER

Over the last few months I have been sending out
postal surveys to constituents asking for their views.
The survey covers a range of issues, focusing on

communications infrastructure, including broadband
and mobile reception. I am delighted by the number
of responses, with many people taking the time to
respond, sometimes in great detail. I will continue to
 1 pack ready roll short crust send these out, and I’m considering all the results
pastry or make your own and using them as evidence in my meetings with
 100g chicken/lamb or pork service providers and Ministers.
cooked and diced small
 ½ cooked carrot One issue that comes up frequently are the concerns
people have about housing. There is a need for more housing so that local people
 1 cooked roast potato have place to live – particularly younger people looking to get on the property
 50g cooked swede ladder. But this must be balanced with protections for our greenbelt, and ensuring
 10gr cooked peas that we are not simply covering our beautiful landscape. This is a difficult balance
 3 tablespoon of leftover gravy to get right, and I would welcome your thoughts on this subject. But it is especially
important for us here in Dorset, where house prices are some of the highest in the
 1 egg
country. Crucially, in my view when we build houses it should be to address the
needs of our local area first.
Preheat oven to 180C/gas 4/350F You can’t discuss homes
without considering the
Using a large mixing bowl, take the cooked root vegetables and crush,
stir in meat, peas and gravy, stir until mixed. Take the ready rolled issue of homelessness, which
pastry and cut a circle approx 10” across. Place on a lined and is a challenge for every
greased tray. Firmly pack the filling along the centre of the pastry government. I was really
leaving a 1” margin around the edges. Brush around the edges with pleased to be able to
beaten egg, carefully lift up the both the sides of the pastry so that support the Homelessness
they meet at the top, then punch together to seal, ensuring there are Reduction Act through
no gaps. Brush the pasty with the beaten egg to glaze. Bake for Parliament, including sitting
45mins until golden. on the Bill Committee to
ensure that it was the best
Ensure you leave a sufficient gap to seal the pastry. If there are gaps piece of legislation possible.
liquid will seep out during cooking. This law will require earlier
intervention by councils to prevent homelessness, becoming the first major piece
Variations. This is a completely versatile recipe and can be adapted
to include whatever ingredients you have left from your roast dinner. of homelessness legislation for 15 years. But I believe that actions often speak
Different pasties can be created with seasonal vegetables throughout louder than words, which is why I spent a cold night in late November sleeping
the year. For a vegetarian option, omit the meat, use fried quorn and outside on a piece of cardboard. I did this with a local youth group, raising
vegetarian gravy. awareness of homelessness, and also raising money for the charity Routes to Roots
in Poole. Some of their volunteers came to speak to the young people, to explain
These pasties are ideal for freezing. how we can help, and some of the reasons why people may become homeless. I
was particularly pleased that so many teenagers joined in the event, helping to
raise a significant amount of money, whilst also learning from the experts about
the different causes of homelessness and what we can do to help.

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