WHILE Brexit is at the forefront of every MP’s mind, other activities in Parliament continue.

As a farmer’s daughter, the environment has always been very important to me.

Giving up plastics for lent last year was a challenge. Since then I have continued to monitor the waste I produce, swapping single-use plastics for reusable alternatives and buying local produce as much as possible.

We are lucky to have great local businesses, such as North Aston Organics and Dairy, who deliver milk and yoghurt to my door in glass containers, which are reused days later.

A lot has changed since I was first elected in 2015. Building on last year’s ban on microbeads, the restriction of plastic straws, drinks stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton buds has recently been put to consultation.

I was pleased to see many businesses taking matters into their own hands and replacing plastic cutlery and straws with alternatives.

Published at the end of 2018, the Resources and Waste Strategy also sets out how we intend to minimise waste moving forward. Leading by example, plastic water bottles are no longer sold in parliamentary canteens, and you incur a 25p surcharge when ordering a coffee without a 'keep cup'.

Policy developments are just one part of the UK’s Environmental Plan; there is much that can be done closer to home.

I am no stranger to litter-picking, having taken the role of Parliamentary Champion for Keep Britain Tidy’s ‘Great British Spring Clean’ (GBSC) for the past four years.

I often return from a walk through the countryside we are so fortunate to have on our doorstep with pockets full of litter to dispose of at home.

This week we launched the 2019 Great British Spring Clean campaign in Parliament.

Alongside colleagues including the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for the Environment, high-street retailer Wilko is this year’s headline sponsor.

I am looking forward to getting out and about in my constituency throughout March to do my bit for the GBSC annual clean-up which runs from March 22 until April 23. I would encourage my constituents to do the same.

From schools to local businesses, anyone can get involved.

Last year, over 370,000 #LitterHeroes across the country joined forces - despite the ‘Beast from the East’ - to collect litter.

We can all take a stand against single-use plastic and I hope many local people will join me during the Great British Spring Clean.

Find out more at keepbritaintidy.org/get-involved/support-our-campaigns/great-british-spring-clean and don’t forget to let me know if you organise your own clean up event at victoria.prentis.mp@parliament.uk