I have made sure that West Dorset’s views on coronavirus and the Agriculture Bill have been represented this week in the House of Commons. I’m particularly pleased that, finally, the Department for the Environment has provided a support package to our dairy farmers, along with a national campaign to encourage us to drink more milk.

The aviation industry has been in the news as coronavirus impacts global travel. We have a good number of British Airways employees who live locally in West Dorset and I have been talking to them to understand their experiences first-hand. On Monday, during a Transport Select Committee session online, I challenged Willie Walsh, Chief Executive of the IAG, about the proposed redundancy of 12,000 BA staff.

It was Nurses' Day on Tuesday, which is celebrated internationally each year on 12th May – the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, known as the founder of modern nursing. I contributed NHS flags to Bridport Town Hall and Beaminster Church as a mark of our gratitude, especially of course to Bridport Community Hospital.

On Wednesday we welcomed the safe re-opening of our local garden centres. I have been working closely with Government, the NFU and the Chairman of the Garden Centre Association to achieve this; and that now gives you the opportunity to restock your garden.

Locally, I am very much aware of the risk of coronavirus in our care homes. My team and I are in regular contact with all care homes to do everything we can to support them, plus an online portal has been launched for staff and residents to access coronavirus testing kits at www.gov.uk/apply-coronavirus-test-care-home.

Lastly, a new reduced timetable has started from last Monday on the Bridport to Yeovil number 6 bus route, although we are continuing to work towards a regular service.

CHRIS LODER

WEST DORSET MP