Current and former steelworkers across Gwent and up and down the country are facing a massive decision as to where to put their pensions.

The new British Steel Scheme and the “lifeboat” PPF are available, but because of laws made in 2015 people can now withdraw their pensions to invest elsewhere or spend as they please.

With the December deadline looming and people under increasing pressure to make a decision, there is a real fear of a “feeding frenzy” of sharks looking to take advantage.

I’ve been calling in Parliament for support for those affected, and the recent deadline extension and an official helpline is a good start.

But we need real support for steelworkers – which is why I’ve met with Ministers and the Financial Conduct Authority asking for an independent panel of trustworthy advisers to be made available.

In the constituency, I was glad to be able to pop along to the Tesco Food Bank collection in Abertillery.

As always, the hard work of the volunteers is only matched by the generosity of shoppers who donated. The community pulls together to help out its own and I’m always proud of that.

But it’s a sad state of affairs that food banks have now become so normalised. The Government has dodged their responsibility on this matter for years.

I am sure many MPs will tell you how hard it is to get a question about food banks on the agenda in Parliament, let alone it be answered.

I’ll keep supporting the hard work of our volunteers in Blaenau Gwent and in a wider sense organisations like the Trussell Trust.

But long term, the fight must be to create a society where food banks aren’t needed.

Last week in Parliament I was pleased to be able to lead the debate on the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme.

Miners and their families deserve a fair deal from their pension pots.

I have a personal reason for pushing for this too. I was named after three colliers: my three uncles on my Mum’s side; Nicholas, Desmond and John.

The 1974 coal strike, when I went with my Uncle Dessie to pick coal off the patches high above Tredegar, still stays with me to this day.

Since 1994, the Government has taken £3.5 billion out of the scheme without making any payments into it.

They have been ready to step in if things get rocky, but miners are right to argue that money should be shared out more fairly.