Rachel spoke in the commons yesterday about her concerns for the future of Regional Development Agencies, including our own Yorkshire Forward. The coalition government is determined to cut RDA's calling them "a waste", yet Yorkshire Forward and other RDA's have done brilliant work across the country; aiding businesses to stay afloat during the recession, giving support to keep people in work and now stimulating the economic growth that we need to recover from recession.

You can watch Rachel's speech during the House of Commons debate on Government Support for Industry on Parliament TV by clicking here.

Rachel spoke passionately to defend the work of RDA's and of the importance of promoting economic growth. She spoke of her concerns that the coalition governments planned cuts will lead to a double-dip recession, damaging industry, causing business failures and job losses, leading to an even higher budget deficit and arguing that what we really need is growth. Growth from strong and diverse regional economies, which relies on the government supporting industry in all our regions - as RDA's do.

Rachel also spoke of Yorkshire's proud industrial and manufacturing past and the strong industry we have in our region today. She called upon the government to give local people and businesses control over their economic future. Control that will be taken away by cutting RDAs. Yorkshire Forward has already been forced to make £44m worth of cuts by the coalition government, as reported here in the Yorkshire Evening Post.

Rachel said today, "I am very disappointed that the government are committed to cutting the budgets of Regional Development Agencies, like Yorkshire Forward, when they have made such positive contributions to local industry and local people. Regional Development Agencies would aid our economic recovery, contributing to the growth of new industries and building a new, stronger economy. By cutting the RDA's the government is putting our economic recovery even more at risk"

This weekend Rachel began petitioning for the Kirkstall Forge railway station. It's a really important project, as it will connect local people, and allow residents in Kirkstall to more easily travel into Leeds. It is part of a bigger Kirkstall Forge development, of which the railway station is crucial and would bring many benefits to the local community and economy.

The new station was promised by 2012, but now seems to be on hold. The petition calls on the government to honour commitments to invest in the station, which will enable more people to use the train, taking traffic off the busy A65 at peak times and support the development of new houses and businesses on the site.

If you would like to sign up then please email rreevesmp@gmail.com, with the subject 'Kirkstall Forge petition'.

This week Rachel met again with the organisers of the I Love West Leeds festival, to hear all the latest festival plans. The festival runs from 3-25th July, at venues all over West Leeds and promises to be great fun for all the family.

Rachel said, "I encourage everyone to go along to a local event during the festival. There is something for everyone, and you'll really enjoy it!"

You can find out information about all the festival events on the I Love West Leeds website

Last week Rachel went to Ms Riley's year 5 class at Castleton Primary School in Leeds West, to discuss with the class issues in their local community. The children made presentations to their MP, and Rachel discussed with them how they could make their local community better.

Rachel commented, "I really enjoyed spending time with such a great class, in a fantastic school. The children raised issues in their local community with me, and we had a good time discussing how we can all make our communities better."