THIS WEEK I welcomed Fred and Shirley Holland to the House of Commons for an award ceremony for local heroes from among older volunteers.

Fred has worked tirelessly for 35 years for the diabetics of Wyre Forest as the leading light of the local branch of Diabetes UK.

Drop-in and educational services for diabetics have had his continued backing and he persistently pressurises hospital managers to support the needs of diabetics and their dedicated clinical staff.

I had the pleasure of opening the new facilities at Stourminster School for the children who have moved from Alexander Patterson School.

I met some of the parents who, although still sad about the loss of Alexander Patterson School, recognised that the new facilities were an improvement in which the dedicated staff would continue to provide the best education and care possible.

The long-term future of special schools and special educational needs locally and across the whole country is uncertain and parents left me in no doubt about their views prior to an Opposition Day debate on this subject.

I am no longer the only Independent MP and the Member for Blaenau Gwent whom, by the conventions of the House, I can call My Honourable Friend, made his maiden speech last week.

As he is already a member of the Welsh Assembly I was not surprised that he has the eloquence expected from someone who sits in Aneurin Bevan's old seat.

He overturned a massive Labour majority because the people revolted against the official party candidate parachuted in from London as part of an enforced all-woman candidates list and he condemned the Labour Party roundly for not listening to local people before the election, removing their right of choice and democracy and challenging their integrity.

The Violent Crime Reduction Bill passed its second reading on Monday without challenge and as there were no votes my adjournment debate on the Future of the NHS followed promptly at 10pm.

I was not expecting a particularly meaningful reply from the new junior minister present but I wanted to warn the Government that they will continue to lose electoral support from their core supporters if they persist with the stealthy privatisation of the NHS that will inevitably lead to severe changes, perhaps even closures of NHS hospital services across the country.

What effect would that have on an election in 2009?

I have had several letters about the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill which also had its second reading and has led to fears that it will curtail freedom of expression, worsen community relations and create uncertainty about what is lawful - words taken from the opposition motion against the second reading which I supported but was lost by 57 votes.

No major rebellion was triggered but the Government majority sank to its lowest level yet due to a few notable rebels and abstentions.