Happy New Year!

The New Year is a time for optimism.

Whatever our personal problems and whatever gloom hangs over the world, now's a good time to be positive.

I'm looking forward to celebrating the Queen's Golden Jubilee and the official opening of the new Accident and Emergency Unit at Kingston Hospital.

Of course, there's plenty of work.

This year could prove crucial for the health service. The Government have sparked a debate on the NHS's future. That's so important that I plan to spend considerable efforts arguing not just for more resources, but also for ways to reduce inefficient national controls over our local NHS.

The railways and tube will also top the political agenda, as Labour's huge mistakes on public transport become even more obvious.

I will press for investment promises made by South West Trains for local train services to be delivered on. We were promised a "gold plated network" to improve reliability. We were promised increased capacity to tackle overcrowding. We cannot allow the Railtrack fiasco to be yet another excuse for doing nothing.

Locally, there's a lot to be excited about. If the fundraising goes well, there are prospects for a new Cancer Unit at Kingston Hospital, a new Theatre for Kingston and essential repairs and improvements at the parish church.

Above all though, our optimism and hopes are inevitably focused on the wider world. Let's hope 2002 is a year of peace.