Tuesday saw the last day of the House of Commons sitting. Parliament then ups sticks for the summer recess. It is slightly different this year, because Parliament is returning for two weeks in September before then going back into recess for a couple of weeks to take into account the three Party Conferences, and then returning properly in October.

No doubt you will have read in the media the “outrage” that the whole country has because these greedy, lazy MPs have so much time off. MPs are apparently on a beach somewhere for the whole of August, doing no work whatsoever. Nothing, I have to say, could be further from the truth, certainly as far as I am concerned.

I have always continued to work throughout the recess during my time as MP for our town. I will have two weeks holiday with my family, but the only beach you might see me on is Seaton Beach. It is a huge honour – the best privilege in the world – to be Member of Parliament for my own town. I take the duties of being a Member of Parliament extremely seriously, and Parliamentary duties are vital to that. I feel that I am paid my wages by the taxpayer to stand up for Hartlepool in Parliament, and that’s what I work hard to do. I ask questions to Ministers on behalf of constituents’ queries, and speak in debates. Last week, I spoke about the cancellation of Build Schools for the Future, which will have a significant and negative impact on Hartlepool schools. This week, I have tabled Amendments on the Academies Bill, which I think is a rushed and poorly thought out piece of legislation that could ruin the education progress of schools in Hartlepool, as well as initiating a debate in Parliament on Tuesday on the future of hospital services, which naturally focused on the future of our own hospital in Hartlepool.

However, I take my duties as a constituency MP extremely seriously and these continue throughout the summer recess. As I am not obliged to be in Westminster for four days of the week, as I am the remainder of the year, I have always seen the recess as a great opportunity to discuss matters of concern with residents’ groups across the town. We are in Hartlepool fortunate that we have a vibrant and passionate voluntary sector across the town, working to improve their community. This year they will be bracing themselves for the unprecedented onslaught of budget cuts which will be coming in the autumn, and I am keen to see how I can help and support them against these cuts. August is a time when I can speak to groups and meet them during the week in their regular meeting spots, as I don’t get regular opportunity to do that when I’m in Westminster. I hold weekly constituency surgeries on a Friday throughout the year when Parliament is sitting: however, thanks to the recess, I can do many more of these surgeries to help people.

I’m writing to community groups and residents’ associations this week, asking to be invited to their meetings in August and September so I can listen to the concerns. However, I’m using also my weekly column today to ask any community group in Hartlepool that if they would like me as their local MP to meet with them, I would be really pleased to do so.

Please get in touch on 01429 224403, or at wrighti@parliament.uk. You can also write to me at 23 South Road, Hartlepool, TS26 9HD.