PARLIAMENT has returned after the summer break and it is certainly a different-looking House of Commons to the one when I was first elected in 2010.

For the first time I represent the official opposition and my primary duty in the house will be to hold the government to account.

Having been a minister for Africa, I’m pleased to take a role shadowing the international development ministers.

It is something I care passionately about and I’ll scrutinise the new government’s policies and actions closely.

I’m also going to be speaking up for many of the concerns constituents are already raising with me — the impact of taking winter fuel payments away from pensioners — and there’s a budget looming at the end of next month with threats of tax hikes to pay for public sector pay deals.

Many of you have written to me about the impact of adding VAT to school fees and this will have a huge impact on schools in my constituency — Malvern College, Bredon and Malvern St James as well as King’s and Worcester RGS in the city — and risks directly impact both jobs and the local economy.

The budget is also casting a large shadow over local affairs.

I am worried that a penny-pinching Labour chancellor will take a fresh look at the promised investment in Tenbury Wells’ much-needed permanent flood defences.

I’ve already raised this in the House of Commons but I’m really concerned about Labour’s plan to impose thousands more homes in West Worcestershire and relax planning restrictions to allow solar farms, windfarms and electricity pylons to be built across our beautiful, rural countryside.

I have always been concerned that Labour does not understand the important of the rural economy, the protection of our farming land and preserving our rural green spaces.

I’ll be doing what I can to make sure your voices are heard.

I’m eager to hear views and if you need my assistance please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me by emailing harriett.baldwin.mp@parliament.uk.