The Government has decided to refer the review of local government structures in Suffolk to the Boundary Committee of the Electoral Commission. Earlier progress against the five criteria required by the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 required further and detailed assessment of the financial case submitted by Ipswich Borough Council. Following the independent financial review by Price Waterhouse Coopers which advised ministers, John Healey - Minister for Local Government - has determined that a wider review of structures and boundaries in part or all of Suffolk may deliver a unitary Ipswich council, will be managed by guidance to the Boundary Committee that will be consistent with the guidance to be used in Norfolk and will run to a parallel timetable. I hope this can be completed in 2008, and that unitary elections might proceed in 2010.

I was disappointed by the conclusion of Post Offices Ltd to progress two post office closures in the Ipswich constituency, but I welcome their decision to retain the Fore Street office. I am certain the information I gave them about development on the Ipswich Waterfront was critical to their decision.

I will spend most of January in Westminster supporting John Healey during the Committee stage of the Planning Bill. This bill seeks to speed up key decisions on the major infrastructure the UK will need to deliver a sustainable economy, particularly power stations, wind farms, rail, road, ports, airports, water and waste developments. A key objective is to separate the decisions on national policies from matters of local concerns. Historically too much time spent on inquiries has repetatively considered national policy. The bill introduces a new system of National Policy Statements (NPS) which requires Government departments to engage in extensive public consultation. Site specific applications will be made to an Independent Planning Commission and will be considered against the relevant NPS and progressed to controlled timetables.

The House will be giving the European Union (Amendment) Bill extensive scrutiny this month. This bill enacts the UK commitment to the Lisbon Treaty which will modernise the EU and help make it more effective. Our "Red Lines" are fully reflected in the Treaty. They protect our labour and social legislation; protect our common law system, and our police and judicial processes; maintain our independent foreign and defence policy; and protect our tax and social security system.

WHAT THE EU REFORM TREATY DOES: A SUMMARY

Modernises EU Structures. It amends existing Treaties in order to make the changes needed to make an EU of 27 work more effectively. It will allow the EU to move on from debating institutional changes and focus on issues which matter to citizens: e.g. energy security, international crime, climate change and globalisation.

Greater Continuity and Efficiency. It creates a full-time President of the European Council to provide greater continuity. The Council is the body through which the leaders of Member States steer the political direction of the EU. he/she will be appointed by national governments for a period of two and a half years, replacing the current system where the existing President of the European Council rotates every 6 months.

More effective voice in Foreign Affairs. It creates a 'High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy' to bring greater coherence to EU external action. This will give the EU a more effective voice in foreign affairs, while guaranteeing national governments the right to conduct their own foreign policy. National Governments will task the High Representative, and he/she will implement commonly-agreed policies. He/she will also be able to present agreed EU positionsin international organisations (just as the EU Presidency does right now) - but there is not threat to our UN Security Council seat. The new High Representative will merge the existing roles of High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (currently Javier Solana) and the External Relations Commissioner (currently Benita Ferrero-Waldner).

More power for national parliaments. It gives national parliaments a strong voice in making European laws for the first time. Every national parliament will recieve draft Eu legislation directly. They may judge whether proposals conform to the principle of "subsidiarity" (that the EU should only act where it adds value). If one-third of national parliaments object, then the proposals must be sent back for review (the 'yellow' card). If a majority of national parliaments oppose a Commission proposal, and national governments or MEPs agree, it can be struck down (the 'orange' card).

Cuts bureaucracy. It reduces the size of the European Commission to ensure the Commission can keep working effectively as the EU enlarges. There is currently one Commissioner from each country in the EU (27 in all). From 2014 the number of Commissioners will be reduced, so only two-thirds of Member States provide a Commissioner at any time, with every country taking equal turns.

Speeds up decision-making. It extends Qualified Majority Voting to new policy areas. There are 50 extensions of majority voting. Of these, 30 will either not apply in the UK, only apply if we agree to them, or are technical to improve EU efficiency. The other 20 are manifestly in the UK's national interest (e.g. energy market liberalisation, creation of an EU-wide intellectual property rights protection). We maintain ultimate national control in key areas including justice and policing, social security, tax foreign policy and defence. A new system of voting will also increase the UK's share of votes on the Council of Ministers from around 8% to 12%.

Chris Mole MP

(Word of the month - Passerelle: Passarelle clauses in the Lisbon Treaty allow easy ammendment of existing treaties, subject to the agreement of member states.)