I had the worst journey to London in my experience last Monday evening. Having missed the 18.15 from New Street to Euston due to delays between Kidderminster and Birmingham, the 18.45 Virgin train, due to arrive in London at 20.31, arrived at 00.02, three hours and 31 minutes late.

It was a sweltering evening and the air conditioning was not working. The explanation offered by a harassed train manager was that two 'pendolino' trains ahead had broken down and could not be moved out of the way! The exasperation was increased by other trains passing us unimpeded on the slow line.

Is it any wonder people only use public transport and Virgin Trains particularly when there is no easy alternative? I have already written to complain about the withdrawal of trains direct from Kidderminster to New Street.

I will now write to Richard Branson and demand either the scrapping of 'pendolino' trains or better facilities for resolving problems when they break down. Three and a half hours delay on a flagship main line is unpardonable.

I had a valuable meeting with Kim Evans, manager of the Kidderminster Jobcentre and some of her staff and learned that it will become Jobcentreplus later this year when it merges with the Social Security Office.

This will bring staff under one roof and ease access for clients who inevitably have dealings with both departments.

I talked to the dedicated, knowledgeable specialist advisers for the 18 to 24 age group and was given a list of shortages in our district that if corrected could make a huge difference to this vulnerable group.

The district lacks adequate drug rehabilitation services and so general practitioners are unable to offer much help.

There is a lack of housing for this age group, who almost invariably fail to obtain the necessary points for accommodation allocation. There is no hostel nearer than Lye or Worcester.

The level of basic skills and self esteem in the unemployed of this age group is very low and there is a shortage of local apprenticeship training for working in the construction industry. The limited public transport and recreation facilities impinge particularly on these young people. I know our councillors are aware of these deficiencies and whatever the result of today's election, I will be pressing them to address these issues with increased urgency in the future.

I have learnt that there is a threat from the Government to the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health, which is the body instituted by the Government to organise the independent voice of patients and citizens, to influence through patient forums the running and organisation of the NHS locally. This would contradict the government's promise to give an effective voice about the NHS to the ordinary, independent citizen.