IT’S always nice to be able to celebrate in Westminster the good work done back home.

I welcomed Tai Calon to Parliament this week to celebrate their £100 million investment over the last five years in social housing.

My street surgeries in recent months have meant a lot of home visits, so it has been good to see homes that have nice kitchens, are better insulated and have improved roofs.

If we are going to scrutinise organisations we also need to champion them when they do well.

So, a big thumbs up to the Tai Calon team.

Back in Blaenau Gwent I was glad to be able to offer my two pence on the Circuit of Wales at the official public inquiry into the land.

As I said there, the reaction from the public is overwhelmingly positive and we need the investment.

I’m a person who has been keen in my five years to support big projects that will make a difference, such as electrification of the valleys railways.

I’ve also supported projects for young people to give them a start such as the Blaenau Gwent Work Experience programme.

These are the sort of projects that you have to fight for as an MP.

The Circuit of Wales could provide a real injection to the local economy and sustainable jobs for years to come.

It’s a no-brainer.

I was also pleased to meet young new starters and apprentices at the British Gas academy in Tredegar on Friday.

Over 100 people work there now and lots of local people are getting jobs there. The company have committed to providing work experience for 450 people not in education, employment or training by the end of 2015.

I’ve visited in the past and always been keen to trump this hidden centre of excellence on our doorstep.

Finally, it was good to help launch our own borough section of Wales Tourism week alongside the Mayor and AM Alun Davies.

We met at Parc Bryn Bach, which is such a brilliant local leisure facility, and tried out the new Bike Hire service there.

Well done to the Blaenau Gwent tourism team which helps bring millions of income and thousands of visitors into our borough. All power to their elbows in the year ahead.