Bernard Jenkin MP has led a debate in Parliament on the EU summit, in which he called on the Government to renegotiate the UK’s relationship with the EU.

Bernard Jenkin MP has welcomed the Foreign Secretary's response to the attack on the British embassy in Iran.  In response to the attack on the British embassy, the Iranian embassy in London is being closed and all Iranian diplomatic staff are being expelled from the UK.

Bernard Jenkin, MP for Harwich and North Essex, has called for the local knowledge of locally employed people to be preserved in the Coastguard service, following the announcement of the closure of the coastguard centre at Walton-on-the-Naze today.

Bernard Jenkin MP has called for regular debates to be held in the House of Commons before each European Union summit.

Bernard Jenkin MP questioned the Deputy Prime Minister on employment law and job creation during Deputy Prime Minister’s questions on Tuesday 15^th November.

Bernard Jenkin, MP for Harwich and North Essex, has tabled an Early Day Motion in Parliament supporting the campaign by Colchester-based charity LEPRA to end discrimination against people affected by leprosy.

During a session of the House of Commons Liaison Committee on the subject of the Bog Society, Bernard Jenkin MP questioned the Prime Minister on the Government’s plans for the Big Society and the reform of the Civil Service.  Mr Jenkin questioned whether there was a coherent plan for implementing changes relating to the Big Society, whether the Government was providing enough strategic leadership for departments and whether it was wise to split the role of Cabinet Secretary from the role of Head of the Civil Service.

A transcript of their exchange is given below:

Bernard Jenkin MP has written an article for Politics Home (8^th November) on the Government's proposals for the reform of the civil service and to make changes to the role of the Head of the Civil Service.  This is an issue into which the Public Administration Select Committee (PASC), which Mr Jenkin chairs, is conducting an inquiry.

Mr Jenkin warns that, under the new proposed arrangements, the new Head of the Civil Service may have less time to dedicate to the role, and is likely to have less access to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.

Bernard Jenkin MP has questioned the Government's argument that it is in the UK's national interest for the Eurozone to be kept together.  Mr Jenkin highlighted a new study by the Centre for Economics and Business Research which suggests that economic growth in the UK will be stronger within two years if the Euro breaks up.

Bernard Jenkin MP has called for more debates in Parliament on defence, and for a new Business Committee of the House of Commons to schedule debates on this and other subjects.