BEHIND the Brexit headlines are hundreds of people working hard every day preparing us for our departure from the EU. None more so, of course, than in Department for Exiting the EU, where our negotiators and those representing the EU have been hard at work on agreeing the terms of the Brexit implementation period.

Earlier this week we announced that an agreement has been reached on the terms of the implementation period – another welcome milestone on our road to Brexit.

The agreement, once it has hopefully been signed off by the EU27 nations at the EU Council summit later this week, means that we will continue to have common rules, including market access, in place until December 31, 2020. The agreement will be governed by a joint committee, and will offer further certainty to citizens and businesses as we negotiate our future relationship once we are outside the EU.

During this period, we will also be able to begin negotiating, ratifying and signing trade deals with countries across the world – beginning our mission of developing a global UK, revitalising old relationships and forging new ones for the first time in 40 years.

But whilst we are busy with Brexit negotiations, the Government is also working hard to deliver an ambitious domestic agenda, with new policies being announced almost daily – you can keep track of them by subscribing to my weekly news round-up on my website at www.claireperry.org.uk

One welcome new Government announcement this week is the opening of five new medical schools as part of the biggest ever expansion of the NHS medical workforce. The new medical schools will open their doors to students across the country this September in Sunderland, Lancashire, Canterbury, Lincoln and Chelmsford – locations chosen in areas where it has been especially hard to recruit new doctors.

The announcement will mean that a record number of undergraduates will begin medical training by 2020, with 1,500 new places funded each year.

Furthermore, as part of our ongoing commitment to our NHS in its 70th year, Jeremy Hunt also confirmed this week a very well-deserved and significant pay rise for our hardworking NHS staff, and the launch of a blueprint for reforming social care.

These changes mean that everyone can be confident that they will continue to be able to receive the care and support they need from our world-class healthcare workers.

Locally, as always, if I can help you with anything or you need a slot at one of my advice surgeries then please do get in touch by emailing me at claire.perry.mp@parliament.uk or calling my Devizes office on 01380 729358.

Claire Perry MP