The Duke of Kent’s visit last week was a celebration of the success of two local companies, Monitron International and Forte Cloth. We also celebrated the superb developments of Weavers Wharf and the preservation of our industrial buildings in such an appropriate, sympathetic manner that makes them so valuable in 2004. The Duke also visited the Stourport Basin and we saw the renovations that have already been carried out and heard about the exciting development planned to bring the Lichfield Basin and the Tontine Hotel back into use. When complete this also will be a celebration of our local heritage and an enhanced tourist attraction.

Two of our local schools also deserve our congratulations.
The Stourport High School - Language College has been awarded training school status which gives it an important role in promoting and developing teacher training. This underlines the excellence of the teaching already provided there.
A team of students from King Charles I School has won the prestigious regional finals of the English Speaking Union Public Speaking Contest and will compete in the National Finals soon. Having heard two members of the team at the Soroptimists’ Public Speaking Contest in Birmingham recently, I know they are outstanding and their success is well deserved and a tribute to the students themselves and to their mentors.

Last week I had the pleasure of opening the local branch of the Alzheimers Society’s new premises at 83 New Road, Kidderminster. The Society provides support for people of all ages with dementia and for their families and carers and also provides funds for research into the causes of dementia. The offices have been extensively renovated by volunteers and now provide an excellent base from which the volunteer staff can continue and expand their activities.

With a reporter from the Worcester Evening News, I met representatives from Patient Forums of Trusts across the county and emphasised to them their importance and powers to convey to Trust managers and clinical staff, citizens’ views on the organisation, quality of service and configuration of the Health Services that their Trusts provide. I was encouraged by their interest and energy and as Forum members appointed so far are mostly retired people, I was interested to hear of their proposals for involving younger people in this essential work for the community.

In answer to my question Elliot Morley MP, Minister for Floods, has told me that the Environment Agency plans to make flood probability data, taking account of the success of the Bewdley Severnside North defences, available to the Association of British Insurers later this year. I hope this will lead to a reduction in premiums for those now shown to be successfully protected.