Former Member of the Commons Justice Select Committee.
The Committee scrutinises the policy, administration, and spending of the Ministry of Justice. In addition, it examines the work of the Attorney General, the Solicitor General, the Serious Fraud Office and the Crown Prosecution Service and reviews draft Sentencing Guidelines issued by the Sentencing Guidelines Council.
Vice Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Armed Forces, Army Division.
The APPG's role is to promote the interests of our forces in Parliament and to keep Parliament informed about developments in the Army, Navy and Airforce. With Maidstone being home to 36 Engineer Regiment this role will keep Helen abreast of the challenges and issues facing our soldiers as well as allowing her to be an informed voice for 36 Engineers in Westminster.
Member of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme (AFPS).
The AFPS inducts selected MPs and other politicians into the Armed Services through an extensive training and familiarisation programme. The strength of the AFPS is that it allows MPs to hear the views of servicemen and women directly and candidly, rather than through the MOD. The scheme includes visits to service personnel and facilities both in the UK and in operational theatres around the world, including Afghanistan.
Former Member of the Conservative Party Family Law Reform Commission
Activity: Undertaking a full review of family law including, but not limited to, areas such as divorce, cohabitation and parental / extended family rights
Former Member of Conservative Party Social Justice Policy Group (Family Division)
Activity: Providing professional knowledge, opinion and experience at meetings, researching and preparing reports and papers. Helen was one of the authors of the Social Justice Policy Group Report 'State of the Nation - Fractured Families' published in December 2006 (http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/client/downloads/BB_family_breakdown.pdf) and the follow-up solutions report 'Breakthrough Britain' published in July 2007 (http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/client/downloads/family%20breakdown.pdf).
Maidstone & The Weald Conservative Association
The Society for Conservative Lawyers
Secretary to the Parliamentary Fruit Group
With a constituency in the heart of the Garden of England, Helen accepted an invitation to become Secretary to the PFG in 2010. The Group covers issues relating to all fruit crops produced in the UK, more specifically top fruit (apples and pears), stone fruit (cherries and plums) and soft fruit (strawberries, raspberries, currants).
APPG memberships
Helen is a member of the following All Party Parliamentary Groups:
- Parliamentary Fruit Group - Secretary
- Commonwealth – Secretary
- Entrepreneurship
- Women in Parliament
Other groups/roles
- British Group, Inter-Parliamentary Union – Executive Committee
- British-American Parliamentary Group
- Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
