I welcomed the House of Commons Health & Social Care Committee to the Island last week, as part of our national report on the cost of inaction for social care. As a committee member, I’m keen to ensure that the Island leads the national debate on health and social care. Securing this visit, which included St Mary’s Hospital, the IW Council, Healthwatch, Age UK, Hazel Lodge Care Home and Carers IW, is an important part of that.

We also visited Care in the Garden, where John Goodenough highlighted the damage to the voluntary sector from increased employer National Insurance Contributions in the October budget.

Improving support for people living with dementia is a key priority for me having worked in that area. I asked the Secretary of State why dementia was removed from NHS England’s priority guidelines, but he did not commit to reinstating the diagnosis targets. This is something I will keep campaigning on until he does.

I have visited Wroxall Primary School, where I met with year 5 and 6 pupils, and I have spoken to the headteacher of Oakfield Primary School and Brading Primary School.

All three schools are on the council’s list for possible closure, but it is apparent that the direct engagement from the council to the schools has been poor. I am urging the council leader, and his cabinet members, to visit the schools in person as I have done, to understand each school’s importance to the local community.

All three schools should remain open and not be closed by the Council.

The Isle of Wight Council elections on May 1 have been cancelled. The Deputy Prime Minister explained this was because the Government is, “not in the business of holding elections to bodies that will not exist, and we do not know what will replace them.”

I’m campaigning to prevent any merger or break-up of our independent local authority, and to stop the imposition of a Hampshire-based mayor, which residents did not ask for. To have your say please complete my survey at combinedmayor.co.uk.