In a new report published today (24th April), the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC), chaired by Bernard Jenkin MP, calls on the Government to publish an annual 'Statement of National Strategy' in Parliament, to underpin the annual spending round and the run-up to the budget.  PASC argues that a clearer expression of the nation's strategic aims is vital to ensure that decisions are made in the long term national interest.  The strategic aims of the Government, informed by public opinion, should reflect the UK's national character, assets, capabilities, interests and values, and provide an indication of the objectives which policies must achieve.

Commenting on the Budget, Bernard Jenkin, MP for Harwich and North Essex, said: “I welcome this Budget, especially the measures to help working people and military families.  I particularly welcome the increase in the personal allowance to £9200 next year, which means that working people will be £170 better off every year after inflation.  This measure will lift an additional 75,000 people in the East of England out of income tax altogether.

Bernard Jenkin MP has called on the Government to publish a plan for civil service reform, as recommended by the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC), which Mr Jenkin chairs.

In a report published on 17th March, the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC), chaired by Bernard Jenkin MP, concludes that the 'independent adviser' on Ministers' interests is not "independent in any meaningful sense".

Bernard Jenkin MP spoke against a Government motion to change the Backbench Business Committee so that members are elected through political party groups rather than being elected directly by all MPs.

In a debate in the House of Commons on 12th March, Mr Jenkin made the following speech:

Bernard Jenkin MP has written an article for Conservative Home arguing against the suggestion that a referendum on the EU should be held at the same time as the next general election.  Mr Jenkin argues that this would be this would be "dangerous in practice and wrong in principle" and that the debate on the EU would be "filtered and obscured by the party battle for control of Downing Street".

Bernard Jenkin MP has called on the Prime Minister to support the Mayor of London and insist on safeguards from EU regulation for the City.  At Prime Minister's Questions on 7th March, Mr Jenkin urged David Cameron to block the new fiscal compact treaty of Eurozone countries, which will use EU institutions, until these safeguards are secured.

Mr Jenkin asked: "Will my right honourable Friend do all that he can to support Mayor Boris Johnson in London, who is pleading with the Pru, our biggest insurer, not to leave the City of London because of the attack by the European Union on the competitiveness of the City?  I invite my right honourable Friend to block the fiscal union treaty by making an application to the European Court of Justice that it is illegal, until we get the City safeguards that he was demanding in December.

Mr Cameron replied: "My honourable Friend is entirely right to raise the case of the Prudential, because it is an example of ill-thought-out EU legislation endangering a great British business, which should have its headquarters here in the UK.  I recognise the importance of this matter.  We are working extremely hard at the European level and with the Prudential to deal with it.  I know that we have the full support of Boris Johnson in doing that."

Bernard Jenkin MP has called for a debate in Parliament before the European Council summit on 1^st- 2^nd March, at which Eurozone countries other EU member states will sign the new ‘fiscal compact’ for the Eurozone.

Bernard Jenkin MP has supported the Government's robust approach to sanctions against Iran and emphasised the importance of showing the Iranian regime that military action will not be ruled out.