Where is the A57 on the regional assembly priority for new roads and where is the Elkersley Bridge? For these to progress both require to be towards the top of the regional priorities, yet neither are and I can find no record of them being proposed by our councillor representatives. Why not? And why the silence on this matter?

In Rotherham, the council is proposing to upgrade their stretch of the A57 to the Yorkshire border, which will leave our final bit the same old country lane with its slowness and danger. Well done Rotherham, but come on our two councils- get acting together on this. A safe and dual carriage way A57 is a top priority.

In Elkersley it is beyond a joke. A new bridge has been designed, but has to look for national funding, despite being within the criteria for local funding. I have a vital meeting on this next week with government to ask for flexibility in the rules, but why are our representatives not getting our roads on the top of the regional roads priority list?

Quietly over the last six months I have been lobbying Ministers in the Home Office to continue with identity cards, but to use a common sense approach. That approach has succeeded with announcements yesterday. My plan was for the passport to be deemed to be the identity card, as both are biometric. This is what is now happening. I also proposed that foreign nationals be the priority, ensuring their rights but also discouraging illegal immigration. This too is now happening and every foreign worker will need an UK identity card.

In my persuading I pointed out that I had received a huge amount of support from Bassetlaw residents for identity cards, but some concerns about costs. The passport equals the identity card idea meets both those objectives very well.

On Tuesday afternoon in Parliament I hope to raise the graveyard scandal in Parliament and take forward my national campaign for no staking, no zealous health and safety and just common sense. Meanwhile action on behalf of constituents is progressing well.