MPs are back to Parliament after the Summer recess, and unlike the last few months of the Tory Government, we have hit the ground running.

On Monday, after rigorous review the UK Government announced the suspension of around 30 arms export licences to Israel because of concerns about the violation of international law.

The UK Government is clear – we need peace in the region and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. All hostages should be released and increased aid needs to be sent to Gaza as a matter of urgency. We will continue to  forcefully raise our deep concerns with the Israeli Government.

This week we also debated Technology in Public services. This is of particular interest to me in my role as Minister for Transformation. As a Government we are committed to improving how people access public services online – by increasing access, improving data and making the internet safer through new Cyber security legislation. I’m also excited by the possibilities of AI, particularly in helping people claim benefits they are entitled to. I was shocked to learn that £3.3 million of pension credit is not being claimed by eligible residents in Stretford and Urmston, The Government is doing everything it can to increase the uptake of this benefit, which is a gateway to claiming Winter Fuel Allowance and other help.

If you or someone older you care about is concerned about getting through winter, there is lots of support available.

• Welfare rights advice (trafford.gov.uk)
• Welcome to Age UK Trafford
• Pension Credit: How to claim – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

This week we also announced changes to OFSTED reporting. Single word judgements have been scrapped, and are being replaced by report cards to give a more complete picture of a school’s performance.

In Stretford and Urmston, where so many of our schools are outstanding, this will give much more information to parents, and the change has been warmly received by schools. I am looking forward to meeting a number of headteachers in the next few weeks to discuss this Labour Government’s reset with education.

On Wednesday, the final report of the Grenfell tower Inquiry was released. The report made 58 recommendations, which the Government have promised to look at in detail, so a tragedy like this can never happen again. The Government have promised to speed up the removal of unsafe cladding, and ensure that social landlords are held accountable for the decency and safety of their homes. I receive many emails from residents about the condition of their social housing, and this legislation should make a real difference.

I also completed my Parliamentary Behaviour Code training. There were some appalling examples of MP sleaze in the last Tory administration and this destroyed many people’s view of politicians. This Labour Government is determined to clean up politics, so that people once again trust their elected members. We have already made a start in beginning reform of the House of Lords, and this week we also debated our Budget Responsibility Bill so there can be no repeat of Liz Truss’s disastrous mini budget, for which many residents are still paying the price.

After a hectic week in Parliament, it was great to return to Stretford and Urmston on Friday where I held two surgeries to discuss urgent casework with a number of my constituents. Housing services and anti-social behaviour were common themes and are two key areas that Labour is working hard to improve and tackle both locally and nationally as part of our ambitious plan for change.

Having worked in the engineering and infrastructure sector before I became an MP, it was fascinating to meet National Grid at its Carrington Substation last week and find out more their work to connect millions of people and businesses to the energy they need every day, as well as the company’s multi-billion pound investment plan that will help deliver the Labour Government’s vision to make Britain a clean energy superpower. National Grid’s transition to zero carbon electricity by 2030 will play a big role in creating the high skilled, well paid green jobs that we need to help drive growth and make people better off in every corner of the country. I am excited to see the opportunities that the green industrial revolution will open up in the coming years for our young people and career changers in Stretford and Urmston.