I HELD a cost-of-living surgery in Berkeley last week so that people could come and discuss their concerns as we battle global inflation.

It was good to meet, listen and support the two people who came and I will be holding further surgeries across the constituency in the coming months. It is also important for me to know how various support packages are working to understand what is needed in the future.

These are challenging times for many in Stroud, The Valleys and Vale and my focus is on helping as many as possible.

One is Pension Credit - a top up that is worth an average of £3,300.

As well as a cash top up to the state pension, it also acts as a passport to other benefits such as help with housing costs, council tax reduction schemes, heating bills and a free over-75s TV licence.

It is estimated that 100s of older people do not claim it in Stroud and this is a call to ask every older person, their carers and families to check if they are eligible.

The Department for Work and Pensions is sending leaflets to 11 million pensioners. And an awareness day took place last week on June 15.

Pension Credit can be claimed online, by telephone or by post. Information is available on Gov.UK website www.gov.uk/pension-credit or by calling the Freephone Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.

Rail strikes will almost certainly have started by the time you read this. Talks between Network Rail, train operators and the RMT union have sadly broken down.

The train operating companies and Network Rail seek to deliver a programme of reform along with a fair pay deal. The UK taxpayer spent £16 billion, £600 per household keeping the trains running during Covid and it is understood the railways need modernising to be sustainable. Passenger numbers remain down on pre-pandemic levels too.

Strikes are extremely disruptive to everyday lives, people trying to get to work and medical appointments. All at a time when we are trying to recover and keep the economy from a serious dip into a recession.

The negotiations are between the employers and the unions rather than the government despite what the unions and their political backers are now claiming. The employers have been clear that the government should not be at the negotiating table and at least one union said it would not negotiate with the government in any event.

I also note that teaching unions are threatening to ballot members on industrial action if they do not receive a 11% pay rise. Other unions are also making similar claims so people are fearing a long period of disruption for workers and our children.

This is not an easy period and workers in the public and private sector will face pressures due to high inflation. Experts have however warned that if we go down the road of huge public sector pay rises now, we will not avoid a recession as inflation will continue to rise further.

The government relies on the independent pay advisory boards on public sector pay and will have to balance increases with keeping public finances under control. I hope strikes are called off so that the country can keep moving.