I was delighted to meet Walsall Academy based in Bloxwich with their teacher Mr Collier who teaches Humanities . The Group of 13-17 year olds visited Parliament. The Education and Engagement Centre provided an excellent workshop and I answered questions about my work in Parliament. 

I was asked about votes at 16 and I took a poll of the students by a show of hands and the majority of whom were against votes at 16. I also suggested they debate the issue of whether children under 16 should not have access to social media as it harms them as some parents have found out. Australia and now France are restricting access. Once they have debated the issue they will let me know what they decided and if they have any ideas about how to use it or not. It was a lively discussion. 

The British Beauty Council held a drop in in the Jubilee Room on Parliament on Monday 25 January 2026 to highlight the key findings from the Value of Beauty Report and the event was hosted by Carolyn Harris MP.
The key findings showed that in 2024 the Industry contributed £30 billion to the UK GDP growing by 9% four times faster than the overall UK Economy's growth rate.
Consumer spending reached £32.4 billion an 8% increase year on year. The sector supported £8.6 billion in tax revenues to the Treasury in 2024.



The industry employed 697,000 people in 2024 and beauty exports totalled £4.3billion in 2024. These products are highly valued globally owing to cutting edge science and innovation, showing the sector as a strong example of how British scientific excellence translates into global commercial success.
The image below of the tower that houses Big Ben is one of the innovations shown at the drop in. The machine is able to imprint a picture onto the nails by placing the hand in the machine. The company developing this was UMIA. 

I visited Primark in the Town Centre and met the Manager Fiona Staack and spoke to the staff about the store and the challenges they face in this Winter of Action. 

Primark provides employment that is caring, dynamic and rewards staff. They also employ students both at their home town and where they study at University which provides a great continuity and prepares them for the world of work. They also provide apprenticeships at all levels with the chance to progress within the organisation. 

They also have to face challenging behaviour and shoplifting. I will take up some of the suggestions to keep the staff safe. 

Primark also support local charities and this year their charity is Acorns Hospice.   

On 22 January 2026 as a member of the Panel of Chairs,  I chaired the debate:

"That this House has considered the International Day of Education." The debate was moved by Bambous Charalmbous MP, and the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Stephen Doughty MP responded.

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 24 January as the International Day of Education in 2018 as part of its "2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development".