This week has seen me return to the issue of childcare post lockdown in Education Questions. I am very concerned that the sector, which was already under stress, will be even more challenged as lockdown relaxes and more parents go back to work.

However there was disappointment when the opening of hairdressers scheduled for the 4th July did not include beauticians. These are sectors of the economy not only for women, but employing women and with female entrepreneurship at their heart. I am very disappointed that pedicures in particular are deemed to be too high a risk, when your feet are a very long way away from your face!

I have received a great deal of correspondence on the issue of Pilates studios and individual personal training studios. I have made my views very clear to the Sports Minister on this, because these (again) can in many cases be female led businesses, something like 80% of yoga instructors are women. These can easily be done at a social distance, in small classes and individually, and are not the same as factory style gyms at all.

I am looking forward to this week’s briefing from the Leader of the County Council, one of his regular updates to MPs, this Friday and also a follow up meeting with Natural England about nitrate neutrality. This is very much a live issue exercising all of the Solent region’s MPs and we are combining efforts to get a solution.

Rt Hon Caroline Nokes MP

Member of Parliament for Romsey and Southampton North