THIS week I am away on a Health Select Committee visit gathering evidence for our current inquiry into the influence of the pharmaceutical industry on the NHS and whether it is appropriate or excessive.

Those who watched the recent Panorama programme on this will realise that an impartial investigation and report is needed urgently.

From time to time people have approached me worried about unlicensed vehicles parked on public roads near their properties.

I received some useful circulars last week and one referred to this problem and advertised a telephone hotline for members of the public to use to report such vehicles. It is a freephone number 08000 325 202.

With November 5 approaching, the Department of Trade and Industry has published a fact sheet entitled Fireworks Legislation - Safety and Anti-social Use to remind us of the changes in the law since the new Act and subsequent regulations.

In brief the supply, possession and use of fireworks will now be more rigidly controlled. From January 1 there will be a limit on the maximum decibels for fireworks on sale to the public and a curfew on firework use between 11 pm and 7 am although these times vary, for example, for New Year's Eve and Guy Fawkes' Night.

Suppliers of fireworks will require a licence to sell fireworks all the year round so hopefully the supply at times of year other than November 5 and the various New Years will be limited.

I realise that the controls will not be tight enough for many pet owners but they have to be a compromise between the groups who enjoy fireworks so much and those against their uncontrolled use.

This year we may not notice much difference but, hopefully after January 1 the controls will make a noticeable difference.

The closure of post offices is a nationwide problem and there have been debates in London about this and now a Select Committee is looking into it as well.

Locally it is being approached, I believe, in a rather devious manner as during the first round of closures some of the currently threatened branches were cited as alternatives that would be open to lessen the disadvantages for customers of closing branches. I have had a useful meeting with district councillors Fran Oborski and Jill Fairbrother-Millis to discuss a plan of action for resistance but it is going to be a tough battle.

Hundreds of signatures on petitions will demonstrate the strength of local feeling and will certainly help.

Recent examples of appalling behaviour by rogue doctors, thankfully rare, have led to concern about the ineffectiveness of the General Medical Council (GMC) in regulating such members of the profession.

I met executives of the GMC last week and was relieved to hear of their plans to improve performance in this role.