The Government’s launch of the Homes for Ukraine Scheme has been met with an unprecedented wave of support.

Over 100,000 people have already expressed interest in housing a refugee family and I expect this number to rise significantly over the coming weeks. Sajid Javid’s announcement over that weekend of the 21 poorly Ukrainian children having arrived in the UK to commence lifesaving treatment also made for heart-warming reading.

The Government’s Economic Crime Bill is also a massive step towards clamping down on oligarchs and turning off the taps for Russia’s economy.

The Home Office has raised an additional 35% tariff onto imported goods from Russia and Belarus – on top of hefty sanctions already in place. While some question the effect these sanctions may have, they are a very potent weapon to use. Sanctions imposed after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 had already caused stagnation in the Russian Economy, and the recent sanctions will be crippling.

On March 31 and April 1, there will be a Boundary Commission hearing in Dorchester at the Corn Exchange. This provides a further opportunity for local people to share their views on how the upcoming boundary changes due in 2024 might impact them, and to voice any opinions or concerns over the proposal, especially those living in the Cerne and Piddle valleys who are proposed to transfer into the same constituency as Blandford, Gillingham and Verwood.

This Tuesday, I attended a very moving unveiling of a memorial to Belgian Airman Jean De Cloedt who was helping the Royal Air Force delivering Spitfire planes across the country during the Second World War. In 1942, 80 years ago on Tuesday, in thick fog, his plane crashed into Lewesdon Hill in Broadwindsor and he was killed on impact. The memorial event was attended by members of his family from Belgium and Broadwindsor Primary School who shared memories of him.

CHRIS LODER

WEST DORSET MP