Being recess, I've spent this week catching up with people in the constituency, holding surgeries, and knocking on people's doors in every ward in Furness to get a feel for the issues that are bothering them at the moment.

It will be no surprise at all that the two issues which keep coming up are Ukraine, and also the rising price of energy.

It's apt therefore that this week the Government published its energy security strategy - a route-map to secure clean, sustainable and affordable energy, reducing our dependency on expensive imports. This plan comes in light of rising global energy prices, provoked by surging demand after the pandemic, as well as Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The government has already stepped in to help families and businesses struggling with their energy bills with the Household Support Fund being doubled to £1billion in the Spring Statement, a £200 discount on energy bills, a £150 non-repayable rebate on Council Tax bills for bands A-D, and a £144million fund for local authorities to support households regardless of the council tax banding.

Allied to the increase in the National Living Wage, and the cut to the UC taper rate - this should mean more money in people's pockets when they most need it. I am well-aware though that prices continue to rise, and there is much more help out there to support you through what is going to be a challenging period. I've collated some advice and support on my website and will keep adding to it. Do let me know if there are any initiatives you think I should add to the list: www.simonfell.org/costofliving

If we're going to get prices down and keep them there for the long term, we need a flow of energy that is affordable, clean and, above all, secure. So, on Thursday, the Government outlined how it will get there. The plan shows the significant steps that will help on energy costs, but also - due to Furness' key role in energy production - impact us directly.

Perhaps most significant is the ambition to embrace new nuclear and deliver up to one new reactor each year this decade, with both large scale and Small Modular Reactors providing up to 24GW of power by 2050.

Clearly this bodes well for Moorside given Cumbria's long nuclear history. My constituency neighbour, Trudy Harrison, has long led the campaign to unlock the potential of Moorside, and she will be delighted at this news.

Offshore wind is to be accelerated too, with an ambition to deliver 50GW by 2030. Our coast already boasts the second largest wind farm in the world, and moving forward delivery of the next round of planned offshore wind will be beneficial not just to energy supply, but also to local jobs. On Thursday afternoon I spoke to the Business Secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng about this, and also flagging the opportunity for more of the construction work to happen in our community, utilising the facilities at the Port of Barrow.

This plan contains numerous other measures, but is an important roadmap to show how we will reduce our dependence on expensive imported oil and gas and deliver long-term shift in our energy with cleaner, cheaper power, lower energy bills and thousands of high wage, high skilled new jobs.