ON Monday there was a debate about police restructuring.

I could only attend for the Home Secretary's opening speech but of the 26 contributions by backbench MPs, only five Government members defended the Government's proposals for large combined police forces.

All other speakers of all parties were against the creation of these huge forces and the question I have previously put as a parliamentary question, about the evidence base for the necessity to have police forces with a minimum of 4,000 officers, was again not answered.

Our own award-winning West Mercia Police Authority and Chief Constable believe strongly that they should be one of the Government's new strategic forces alone and thus remain independent of the large conurbations in the West Midlands, even though they have only 2,400 officers. I have made it clear to the Home Secretary that I support this view.

I paid my early morning Christmas visit to the Royal Mail sorting office earlier this week and with the delivery office manager, Raymond Williams, met a number of staff.

I was impressed with the efforts they make to deliver incorrectly addressed cards and letters.

Postcodes, even when they are used, can be confusing. Dorset's DT code, in some people's writing, can be confused with our DY code and I saw several letters for Dorset and couldn't help wondering how many of our letters have gone to Dorset.

I was very pleased to feel the air of cheerfulness in the sorting office despite the huge workload and to see a number of new recruits being shown their duties by experienced members.

As judged by this delivery office, Royal Mail are coping well with the challenge from alternative postal services and I do hope this state of affairs continues as we would all miss the regular calls from our own postie whom we get to know so well.

The Christmas concert by Stourport Choral and Operatic Society was enjoyable again this year and the audience appreciated the many carols in which they were allowed to join.

Two extremely funny sketches broke up the more serious side of the evening and the Twelve Days of Christmas complete with all the characters was a tremendous hit.

I have had notification that the Big Lottery Fund has opened its Reaching Communities programme.

This is a demand-led, lightly prescribed programme which aims to improve the quality of life of local communities in England affecting particularly the lives of people most in need.

It is believed that this will bring improvements to lottery funding for the voluntary and community sector.

The programme is now open for applications and information can be obtained from: 0121 200 3500 or www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

I plan to restart my MP's surgeries on January 6. To make an appointment please leave your name and telephone number on 01562 753333.