IN RECENT weeks, I’ve been keeping in touch with businesses in retail, hospitality and tourism, in particular in West Dorset’s coastal areas, to see how they are doing since reopening and to offer my ongoing support.

Last weekend I was in Bridport, where it was good to see the town and market so busy on a sunny Saturday. I also called in to see Richard Balson, who shared with me how local deliveries from his butcher shop have played such an important part for him during the crisis, as I know it has for many other of our independent shops.

Through its Reopening High Streets Safely Fund, with £50m distributed to councils throughout England, Government has supported town centres such as Bridport get back to business.

It was reassuring to see so many banners and other measures in place to encourage safe shopping and I’m grateful to the town council for making that possible.

Last week I voted in the House of Commons on the Chancellor's short-term measures on stamp duty, on the all-important lavatory duty for town councils and on the Parliamentary Constituencies Bill. This week we have had the third reading of the Trade Bill and, to be clear on where I stand; I believe it is not the job of Parliament, nor me, to ratify trade deals, it is the job of Government. It is then my responsibility, on behalf of us all here in West Dorset, to then hold the Government to account through questions and debates.

Finally, there has been much debate on the subject of TV licences for the over-75s. I have co-signed a letter, along with more than 60 fellow Conservative MPs, to warn the BBC's Director General that the corporation's plans to end free television licences for most over-75s demonstrates how detached it has become from its viewers, to find out more visit www.chrisloder.co.uk/bbc

CHRIS LODER

MP FOR WEST DORSET