AT the start of this month we welcomed ‘Small Business Saturday’, an excellent initiative designed to celebrate and promote Britain’s small companies and independent traders.

I had the pleasure of visiting Tej and Co, a Norton based business which was chosen to represent the whole of the West Midlands for the event.

Tej Chang started the company in 2002 from her home, and has since moved to a salon in Norton and employs two members of staff.

Afterwards, I did some Christmas shopping at a number of the fayres and Christmas markets in Stourbridge.

The decorations around town are lovely this year, and it is always a pleasure to see the high street lit up in the evening.

I also visited Stourbridge Children’s Centre to meet the team there. I know how important these groups are to parents across Stourbridge, and this was a useful opportunity to discuss the challenges they are currently facing and their plans for the future.

Afterwards, I visited the Lion Health centre to catch up with Dr Steve Mann. We discussed how this state-of-the-art, new centre has been doing over the last few months, and the issue some patients have had getting to the surgery by bus.

In Parliament I dropped by a Christmas reception held by Guide Dogs UK. I am a keen supporter of this charity which does amazing work for people who are visually impaired. It was a pleasure to meet those who work for the charity and some of the dogs!

I also attended an event held by Royal Mail to find out more about the organisations for 2015 and I am looking forward to visiting the Stourbridge Royal Mail Delivery Office to thank all the local staff, not just for their hard work during the busy Christmas period but throughout the year.

Last week I met Theresa May to discuss a particular tragic case that was brought to my attention by a local charity. We discussed this case and the wider issue of Sharia Law in the UK. It is vital that we better protect vulnerable individuals who, in some cases, aren’t getting the help and support that they need.

Women, especially, need to know that Sharia Law has no formal standing in UK law.

I also attended a roundtable discussion with Jaguar Land Rover to talk about supply chains and skills.

Jaguar Land Rover recently opened a plant in Wolverhampton, creating 1,400 new jobs in the Black Country so it’s important that we do all we can to support companies like this.

Finally, this will be my last column before Christmas so I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Margot can be contacted on 01384 370574 or margot.james.mp@parliament.

uk, online via www.margotjames.

com or by writing to Margot James MP, The Old Library, Hagley Road, Stourbridge, DY8 1QH.