“We must do all we can to reduce the amount of plastic that is going into landfill” said Phil Willis MP (LibDem, Harrogate & Knaresborough) commenting on the launch of the Plastics 2020 Challenge’

“As a society we now consume more of everything and are therefore also producing more waste. We cannot continue using plastics at such a rate, and must make more effort to reuse and recycle a larger majority of them.”

Tory MP Phillip Hammond described paying parliamentary interns as ‘an abuse of taxpayers’ money’ in a leaked email acquired by campaign group Interns Anonymous this week.

Mr Hammond, MP for Runnymede and Weybridge responded to concerns from a member of public about interns pay by stating “I would regard it as an abuse of taxpayer funding to pay for something that is available for nothing and which other Members are obtaining for nothing. I therefore have no intention of changing my present arrangements.”

Phil Willis MP (LibDem, Harrogate & Knaresborough) has today welcomed the introduction of new European standards on nightwear.

They will close a legal loophole that meant boys’ pyjamas did not have to meet the same stringent regulations as nightdresses and dressing gowns. They will enforce minimum standards on the flash and burn times of pyjamas.

“This is very good news” said Phil Willis MP. “Two years ago I tabled a motion in the House of Commons following the sad case of a North Yorkshire toddler who was scarred for life when his pyjamas caught fire.

Interest in what MPs do during the summer recess has grown following the expenses saga and the creation of the 38 Degrees campaign group.

“Although the House of Commons is not sitting there continues to be a lot of work here in Harrogate & Knaresborough and in my role as chair of a select committee” said Phil Willis MP (LibDem, Harrogate & Knaresborough).

Phil Willis MP has backed the findings of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Autism who concluded that the support that young people with autism receive when they are in the transition to adulthood is not sufficient.

He joined other MPs in recognising that although there are a few exceptions, young people with autism are not receiving sufficient support from the current system.

“I know from local families that the transition to adulthood for any young person with autism can be a particularly difficult time.

“Pensioners certainly need a better deal” said Phil Willis MP (LibDem, Harrogate & Knaresborough) commenting on the publication of a report by the House of Commons Works and Pensions Committee.

“With two million pensioners still living in poverty action is urgently needed.” said Phil Willis.

“One important step would be to simplify the benefits system, in particular pension credit. There must be something wrong with a system that has so many pensioners in poverty and yet 1.7m older people fail to claim money to which they are entitled.

Financial support for interns was the most hotly debated issue at the first of a series of interns focus groups hosted by Phil Willis MP yesterday. The issue was discussed at length, along with the possibility of capping the duration of internships and more open advertising of opportunities within parliament.