Helping business get paid on time

I welcome the campaign announced today by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to assist businesses with being paid promptly. This is an issue that particularly affects smaller suppliers, but impacts a number of larger enterprises as well. 

The Government is encouraging all businesses to adopt best practice, through the Prompt Payment Code. In addition to this, BIS has worked with the Institute of Credit Management to promote a range of practical business tools online, for all companies to use. These can be found online here.

As ever, I am glad the Government is taking steps to support small businesses, the cornerstones of our economy.

Big Energy Week

Rising fuel bills are a big concern, both nationally and within the constituency. I was glad to be able to support the Citizen's Advice Bureau's Big Energy Week campaign, which is ongoing from the 16th to the 21st January. Fuel poverty is unacceptable, and the Government is making progress on tackling the issue, largely due to the stellar work of voluntary organisations in addressing it.

I welcome the CAB's drive to ensure everyone is able to access the best prices for their energy. The campaign website is packed full of useful information and advice that I hope many will benefit from.

It is testament to our strong community spirit that Wiltshire CAB volunteers, in conjunction with Wiltshire Council and Ridgway Care and Repair, braved the awful cold today to stand in the Marketplace and offer free advice to local people. 

Holocaust Memorial Day

This week in Westminster I joined a number of my colleagues in signing a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons. This is the second year I have done so, as I believe it is so important to continue to honour those who died during the tragedy of the Holocaust.

Next Friday marks the 67th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, and the Holocaust Education Trust placed the book in the Commons to give MPs the chance to honour those who were persecuted and killed. 

The Holocaust Educational Trust also seeks to encourage people to take a stand against racism and prejudice in our society today, and to speak out against hatred. History has provided us with some chilling lessons for modern life; I welcome the Holocaust Educational Trust's teachings on this extremely important matter. 

Handing petition into Downing St for RE.ACT

I was delighted to lend my support to the RE.ACT campaign, promoting the inclusion of RE in the English Baccalaureate. I am a firm believer that religious education deserves its place at the heart of humanities. It is not only an academically rigorous subject but also promotes empathy with others and critical thinking – two skills that are vital in the modern world. More than 140,000 people have signed the petition that RE.ACT presented in Downing Street on Wednesday and I myself have spoken to and corresponded with a number of local RE teachers, who all share a great passion for their subject and commitment to seeing it receive the respect it deserves.

Resource Extraction (Transparency and Reporting) Bill

Yesterday I backed a bill that could help lift millions out of poverty in developing countries across the world.

The new legislation would require oil, gas and mining companies listed on the London Stock Exchange to publish what they pay to developing countries.

Such transparency would allow people in some of the poorest countries in the world to hold their leaders to account for the billions of pounds of revenues they receive for precious natural resources – money that is often mismanaged or lost to corruption instead of being used for desperately-needed schools, hospitals and other basic services.

The Resource Extraction (Transparency and Reporting) Bill, or 'Publish What You Pay' Bill, was tabled by a cross-party group of MPs and was given its First Reading yesterday in the House of Commons.

Anas Sarwar MP, who presented the Bill and sits on the International Development Select Committee, said: "I'm delighted that John Glen is backing this bill which could help lift millions of people out of poverty in developing countries.

"I want to see the vast sums of money made through natural resource extraction in developing countries put to effective use for the public good.

"John Glen's backing brings this dream one step closer to reality."

Daylight Savings Bill

Today I am staying in Parliament to support my colleague Rebeccas Harris as she brings forward the Daylight Savings Bill. This Private Members Bill would require the government to launch an inquiry into the benefits of moving clocks forward by an hour throughout the year. I think it is an excellent idea that has widespread support from constituents and is supported by a wide range of people including road safety, environmental, tourism and sports groups.

For the daylight savings bill to pass, 102 MPs must vote in favour of it. I hope that an extra hour of daylight in the evening will be a good thing for the people of Salisbury and the country as a whole.

 John with Rebecca Harris MP, who has proposed the Daylight Savings Bill.