Focus on Priorities

AFTER disappointing performances for the governing parties in the mid-term local elections, there is naturally a period of introspection over what is going wrong and whether changes need to take place.

This analysis inevitably gives rise to a measure of personality politics, where those who have felt slighted or passed over, ignored, or marginalised are prompted to present their solutions.

Such frustrations are magnified when the government is formed from two parties who would, in normal circumstances, disagree on some priorities of government.

Many constituents tell me they believe the coalition is used as a convenient excuse for an unnecessarily extended list of compromises, with the inevitable suspicion that some of these compromises are ones done under the convenience of the coalition rather than because of it.

Some commentators have written eloquently about the "change of direction" required.

For my part, the anxiety I sensed when out campaigning recently was a combination of fatigue with the austerity narrative (understandable but unavoidable) and confusion over how the mission of government will deliver economic growth – and in what timeframe.

At the time of writing, the indications are there that the Queen's Speech will reinvigorate national debate with that sense of purpose.

I am keen to see a renewed focus on the government's key priorities: creating jobs and tackling the deficit to ensure our long-term economic stability.

The vast majority of hard-pressed working people want to hear the government is focused on doing something to alleviate the pressures on their household budgets.

Responsible pet ownership is vital

I HAVE heard a lot of positive reports of last week's Big Business event at the Guildhall, which I hope will prove to be a very positive springboard for future networking events.

It is the lot of backbench MPs to be at the mercy of the whips when it comes to accepting mid-week engagements. I had hoped to attend but, at the last minute, was unable to secure permission to be absent from the Commons.

However, this week parliament was prorogued until next week's state opening, giving me the luxury of more time to spend in the constituency, attending the Queen's visit and Thursday's launch of a new mobile chemotherapy unit at Salisbury District Hospital.

Salisbury is a constituency full of animal lovers and any campaigns related to mistreatment of our furred and feathered friends always brings in an influx of concerned emails and letters.

I was, therefore, delighted to accept an invitation to speak at the Parliament Talks forum at the Dogs Trust in Newton Tony tomorrow.

DEFRA has recently launched a three-month consultation into reforming dangerous dog legislation.

Two of the key proposals are to extend the criminal offence for having an out-of-control dog to cover incidents that take place on private property and introducing compulsory microchipping of all dogs.

I look forward to a frank debate with animal welfare experts and interested pet owners about what else government can realistically do to promote responsible pet ownership and also on the limitations of politics when it comes to regulating the behaviour of individuals.

The key point on which there seems to be universal agreement is that feckless ownership is a form of neglect that is as cruel and unfair to the out-of-control animals as it is to the people and property threatened by them.

I support all moves to protect and incentivise responsible dog owners and, with the government's consultation remaining open for a further ten weeks, I am keen to hear from as many constituents as possible who want to feed their own experiences and insights into the process.

Government support for homeless veterans and churches

THIS week kicked off with two ministerial meetings.

I was pleased to introduce representatives of Salisbury charity Alabaré to housing Minister Grant Shapps and set out the case for active government support for Alabaré's work with homeless military veterans.

Given Salisbury's proud heritage, proposals in the budget concerning VAT on repairs and alterations to listed buildings (especially churches) are causing a great deal of anxiety – concerns which I expressed to exchequer secretary David Gauke.

Several members of the House of Lords have already expressed reservations and I fully support their views.

With £70million of the £107million spent annually on Church of England property raised by parishes, our heritage is entitled to expect a little extra help.

Immigration is a perennial topic in my postbag, reflecting people's genuine concern about years of virtually unchecked immigration and chaotic border security.

I am always delighted to tell them that, although horror stories still abound, this government has taken huge strides towards closing commonly exploited loopholes.

Former Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police Brian Moore is now in post as the head of the new UK Border Force and has a mandate to focus on the law enforcement that is so vital to our border security, particularly in this Olympic year.

I look forward to meeting his replacement Patrick Geenty shortly – as well as to this Friday's visit to Salisbury police station to discuss issues of concern with frontline officers.

This country's first permanent cap on non-EU work migrants has been in place for a year and has resulted in rapidly falling numbers of migrants.

Interestingly, the limit set by the cap has never been reached, ensuring much-needed skilled workers have not been turned away.

Reform of the lax student visa system, testing the veracity and language skills of prospective overseas students, are in place and the government will shortly be setting out reforms to break the link between family immigration and benefit-dependency.

At the same time, it should be a point of some pride that we are constantly striving towards a more compassionate immigration system, deterring economic migrants while providing a safe haven for genuine asylum seekers in great need.

Budget clarity is needed

PARLIAMENT returned after the Easter recess this week to debate the Finance Bill following last month's Budget.

There can be no doubt this has been a controversial Budget with the "pasty" tax and changes to tax relief for charitable giving being particularly unpopular measures. Last week, I was lobbied by businesses in the constituency on these matters.

I am very sympathetic to the practicalities of how one can easily judge if one of Reeves' excellent sausage rolls has fallen below the "ambient temperature" whereby the levying of VAT would not be allowed.

However, it also seems wrong that one day I could choose fish and chips for my lunch and pay VAT on it as a takeaway meal but the next day choose a hot pasty from the shop next door and not pay VAT.

The government intended to remove an anomaly but tax has to be levied fairly and I think, on reflection, some of these measures cannot be easily implemented. I hope clarifications are forthcoming.

For me it is wrong that the very wealthy avoid paying reasonable levels of tax. Many constituents have written about the need for the richest to pay their fair share and I agree with them. For some, giving more than twice Salisbury's average wage to charity each year is barely comprehensible.

But if that sum was placed in a charity which did not involve any charitable activities then that is not right. As ever, headline writers have had their fun with these issues. For me, the challenge remains for the government to reduce the deficit and put in place measures to encourage the growth of a competitive economy.

I visited Abbey Wood with the Defence Select Committee on Thursday to review the procurement processes in the MoD. Friday will be spent visiting a local school, individual constituents in their homes and holding a surgery. It will also be a pleasure to catch up with my predecessor Robert Key who I occasionally call upon for some wisdom in dealing with long-term matters facing the constituency. Robert is always thoughtful and generous with his advice, for which I am extremely grateful.

International aid is vital

THIS week, more by luck than judgement, my long-planned engagement to spend the evening with members of the Salisbury branch of Amnesty International coincides with a fresh focus on emerging democracy overseas – not least thanks to the prime minister's imminent meeting with Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and President Thein Sein.

Fresh from a bumper Easter surgery, as well as debating some of the burning human rights issues of the day, I look forward to reflecting on how government can make an ongoing contribution to peace and stability overseas – not just by responding to crises but by engaging with friends of democracy across the globe.

As a Board member of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, an independent subsidiary of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, I have over many years visited a number of nations, including Uganda, South Africa, Pakistan and the Maldives, to lend support to legislators there and to offer my perspectives into the functioning of our mature democracy.

Winston Churchill's famous truism that democracy is the worst form of government apart from all the others that have been tried is often quoted to me as I go about my business.

But, whatever the frustrations of our system, and there are many, it remains a model to which many nations aspire.

I am frequently challenged about why it is that, in these times of austerity, the government has upheld the pledge made by all three major parties at the last election to increase the UK's spending on international aid.

Even setting aside the moral imperative to help others less fortunate than ourselves, it is undeniably the case that, for a given sum, more good can be achieved in terms of alleviation of suffering in developing countries than it can in the UK. Aid works.

I am proud to know that, over the next three years, UK aid money will give 15.9 million children access to schooling, vaccinate 80 million children against disease, help 44.9 million people participate in free and fair elections and provide safe drinking water to 17 million people.

Panic over - let's resolve this dispute

WITHOUT doubt the past fortnight has not been a good one for the Government.

Last Friday I visited a garage owner in the constituency who told me that he had sold £26,000 of fuel the previous day, compared to £6,000 on a typical day prior to recent events.

This information demonstrates the power that well-intentioned words of advice can have.

Clearly talk of filling up a jerry can as a precautionary step sent out the wrong message, leading to exactly what everyone wanted to avoid – panic purchase of fuel.

What is needed is a speedy resolution to the industrial relations dispute. The underlying concerns of fuel tanker drivers with respect to safety and working conditions need to be dealt with as they meet with their employers this week. Bolshie rhetoric from all sides does no one any good and let's hope lessons are learned so this sorry episode will not be repeated.

News of George Galloway's return to Parliament having won the Bradford West byelection was a great shock to many, particularly given it was a "safe" Labour seat for 38 years. I won't be crowing over this, as I feel there are lessons all parties must learn from recent events.

What is required is leadership that focuses on enabling sustainable economic recovery and doing all that can be done along the way to relieve the pressure on hard-working families who are struggling in these difficult economic times.

At the end of Holy Week I want to wish everyone a happy Easter. I believe the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important truth in human history from which we can all draw strength.

I hope you will be blessed by the true meaning of Easter, which should not revolve around Cadbury but Jesus Christ, although I am partial to a creme egg or two.

Donations cap is vital

LAST Sunday's revelation showing Peter Cruddas declaring how much it would take to gain access to the Prime Minister sickened me. I was utterly appalled by the way this "treasurer" of my party behaved.

Quite understandably, it brings politics into disrepute.

It also underscores the need for wholesale reform of the funding of all political parties involving the imposition of a cap on donations whereby no political party is forced to go cap in hand to big donors.

Having worked for three party leaders, I was aware of the time they had to spend meeting with potential donors in order to fund the campaigning activities of the party.

This was time which would have been better spent forming policies and listening to constituents.

I hope the Labour Party will accept their links to trade union paymasters will also need to be redefined so the public can be assured those they elect are not beholden to a vested interest.

On Tuesday, I spoke in the last debate before Easter on assisted dying.

I am against a change in the law as I believe it will leave the most vulnerable in our society open to the risk of their life being terminated against their will. On Wednesday, I spoke to a group of local business people at the White Hart Hotel in Salisbury.

Following a robust Q&A on the Budget, I drove to Devon where I took up the challenge laid down by the Centre for Social Justice to volunteer at a residential centre which helps disadvantaged unemployed young people gain the motivation, confidence and skills they need to acquire and retain a job and accommodation.

I hope, by spending two days immersed in the lives of this group, I may be a more effective advocate for the most vulnerable in our community.

Budget must meet challenges

RECENT days have brought a crescendo of speculation ahead of the Chancellor's presentation of the Budget yesterday.

At the time of writing, the Budget has not been delivered, but my hope is that George Osborne presents a fair deal for the whole country.

I hope the Chancellor will accelerate the increase in the threshold for paying income tax.

I want to see those who are on the lowest incomes benefit from the Budget and increasing the threshold is an excellent way of helping low-income workers without penalising higher earners.

The widely-anticipated measures cracking down on "tax dodging" through registering personal property under a company would be absolutely right.

This is not just an issue of economics but basic fairness; that taxation of personal property should apply to everybody.

I do not like to hear of multi-millionaires paying less tax than hard-pressed working families in Salisbury.

On this I feel confident the Chancellor will take action.

A heavily-trailed idea has been that every taxpayer should receive an "account" of where their taxes are spent.

I think this is an excellent suggestion which will allow us to understand the costs of delivering government services.

If it is adopted, I hope we can begin to have well-informed debates about where money is spent. Sometimes when people challenge me on the money spent on international aid, I have to remind them it represents less than 1p in every pound of tax. An "account" of where money goes would help inform public debate in a very helpful way.

I also hope, in the light of the FairFuel Campaign, there will be a decrease in fuel duty.

Many constituents have written to me on this subject and I was pleased to be able to represent their views during the debate held in November.

High fuel duty increases the costs for businesses, is unfair when there is no market for affordable low-emissions vehicles, and hits the poorest the hardest – especially in our rural areas.

The Chancellor has a great opportunity to address head-on the challenges we face on Wednesday. I hope he will rise to the occasion.

Falklands are in safe hands

LAST week, I visited the Falkland Islands with the Defence Select Committee.

The committee had not visited the islands since 1999 so, despite the sabre rattling by the Argentine president, it was right that we visited the UK's defence establishment at Mount Pleasant where £70 million is spent each year to defend the Falkland Islands.

As has become commonplace on my Defence Committee visits, I soon met a constituent so, amid conversations about helicopters, I was invited to take up a matter by a pilot from Stoford. I felt privileged to oblige.

It is quite clear the Falklands defences are in fine shape – we visited HMS Clyde as it was about to depart to South Georgia, we met with families of serving soldiers, toured accommodation, visited the governor, the Legislative Assembly members, the Chambers of Commerce as well as all military assets and those who look after them.

It was also a real privilege to visit the graves of those who gave their lives during the Falkland Conflict in 1982. The memorial at Blue Beach Cemetery, San Carlos, was particularly poignant as we reflected on the bravery of those who landed there to liberate the islands nearly 30 years ago.

I was pleased to know the radar systems and the overall tactical posture of our assets indicate the Ministry of Defence is taking nothing for granted – no matter how much empty rhetoric is uttered in Buenos Aries.

What was also clear from our conversations is that the Falkland Islands are facing a key moment in their history – the prospect of significant viable oil fields to the south and north of the settlements makes the next decade a potentially exciting one for the overseas territory.

The islanders' response to this opportunity will have a big impact on the future economic prosperity of the 3,400 inhabitants.

After 17 hours of flying, I returned to my family and the email inbox - I am pleased to say 190 replies were despatched by Tuesday morning.

A full week in Westminster awaits and some last-minute lobbying before the long-awaited budget is revealed next Wednesday.

Getting back to basics with benefits

LAST week, the Welfare Reform Bill passed into law, heralding a return to the key role of benefits in a civilised society: to provide a helping hand for the most vulnerable and a safety net for those in crisis, not to furnish an alternative lifestyle for people who choose not to work.

One of the headline changes is a cap on benefits, set at £26,000 per year, equivalent to a salary of £35,000.

This contrasts with a situation in which it was possible for benefit-dependent households to receive up to £104,000 a year in housing benefit alone, the equivalent of 27 years' tax for an average earner in Salisbury.

I am proud to live in a country that has enshrined the principle of caring for the needy into law.

However, it is indefensible for people with the capacity to work to be given an income far in excess of that of many of the hardworking families whose taxes pay for their benefits.

These reforms make people facing the biggest challenges – including war widows and households where anyone is in receipt of disability living allowance, personal independence payments or constant attendance allowance – exempt from the benefits cap.

They also include the introduction of more personalised work capability assessments, replacing the blunt box-ticking exercise that denied benefits to many deserving people, while making it far too easy for others to manipulate the system.

Of course, everyone's circumstances are different and those who cannot work deserve the full assistance and protection of the state but, in the current climate, government owes it to the country at large to do all it can to incentivise people to get back on their feet.

Hardly time to draw breath

FOLLOWING my speech last week on the NHS risk register and posing a question to the Leader of the House to try to keep up the pressure on the MoD to give due consideration to the broad-based community backing enjoyed by the Wilton eco-village bid, I started this week with an education question.

I took the opportunity to seek an assurance from the minister concerning the need to allow local parents and schools the right to make decisions over how to deliver sex and relationship education. There is a review under way and it is critical that parents have the right to input into how such sensitive issues are handled.

My question provoked a series of impromptu follow-up questions from colleagues so I may have touched a raw nerve on this one.

On Tuesday, the Defence Select Committee interviewed the welfare and veterans minister on the subject of accommodation for the military.

I very much hope that the highlight of this week will be the Alabaré Sleep-Out, in which I am delighted to be participating for the third consecutive year.

I am pleased to see we are likely to be blessed with mild weather – unlike last year's near-freezing conditions.

The event, which does wonders raising money for and awareness of the plight of the homeless and vulnerable in the constituency, comes at the end of another busy constituency day.

I am looking forward to meeting with constituents in Amesbury and also to joining the staff and students of St Joseph's School to witness and be part of their contribution to this year's BBC School Report.

I plan to be up bright and early on Saturday and, after the provision of extra strong coffee, will be speaking to the good people at Alderbury Church breakfast before heading to the Cancer Research Spring Fair at the Guildhall and the opening of a new sensory room at Bradbury House in Old Sarum.

In a packed day-and-a-half, I will undertake 11 engagements – including a full surgery– so if you see me out and about on Saturday afternoon looking bleary-eyed, put it down to the effects of 24-hour politics.

Falklands Trip is due

THE Defence Select Committee, of which I am part, made the headlines last week in connection with our forthcoming trip to the Falkland Islands.

I ran the gauntlet of Sky News in an attempt to explain the purpose of the trip and the rationale for going ahead in spite of raised tensions and rhetoric coming out of Buenos Aires.

The Defence Committee exists to scrutinise the MoD and determine how effectively it spends taxpayers' money whenever and wherever British military assets are deployed.

Part of that role involves routine visits to military bases around the world and across this country, speaking both to top brass and to the rank and file to gauge the appropriateness of the resources at their disposal.

A trip to the Falklands, where more than £60million of British government money is spent every year, is long overdue.

The committee has not been there for 13 years and last planned to go in 2009, when diary problems forced a postponement.

I view it as a simple matter of not being deterred from doing our jobs and performing our constitutional duty because of a particular (and erroneous) interpretation that Argentina wishes to put on it.

As one of my colleagues commented, I hope with tongue firmly in cheek: "The idea that a bunch of middle-aged parliamentarians is an escalation of Britain's military presence flatters us beyond belief!"

Friday brought another media engagement with a quick dash to Southampton to record The Politics Show. However. There was still time to hold a full surgery, visit Arundells, where I am delighted that plans to preserve the house are still in active development, and to attend the first of several "meet the MP" Q&A sessions in Pitton.

I look forward to the next one this Friday in the Glebe Hall, Winterbourne Earls.

Maintaining a healthy NHS is vital

THERE has been a great deal of renewed scrutiny of the government's NHS reforms in the past week.

However, most of the more recent debate centred not around the facts of the proposals but about the political implications of even daring to pose the question of whether this country's most precious institution could be run in a more sustainable way.

Wherever you stand on the politics of reform, I think the key policy imperative remains sound – to remove as many tiers of non-clinical expense as possible so that free-to-all healthcare at the point of need remains a reality in this country for generations to come.

The government's duty is to prepare the NHS for the challenges of the next 50 years, not just continue to patch it up, adding more and more layers of middle management, without taking account of the fundamental shift in the demographics of his country.

Vastly increased numbers of people will be living for longer with chronic conditions, needing more integrated home-based programmes of care, defined by local GPs, rather than just emergency intervention.

Change is never easy but adopting an ostrich attitude and not facing up to the coming crisis is not an option that any responsible government can afford to contemplate.

My correspondents on the issue have been, without exception, well-informed and passionate about the NHS. I recognise change is concerning but realising we are all on the same side and seeking ways to ensure the long-term survival of the NHS is a good starting point.

* Another busy weekend of constituency engagements beckon and this week I will be connecting with local business leaders.

It has also been a week of excellent news for the Wilton eco-park development project, which has won a £52,000 grant from the Department of Energy and Climate Change to roll out a programme of energy awareness activities.

I am a huge admirer of the project and I think it is worth remembering that the old UKLF site is already earmarked for housing – the only question is whether it is to be purchased and developed with the direct input of local people who have a distinctive vision for maximising the volume of affordable housing and a plan enabling "green jobs" to be created. I look forward to attending the latest public meeting on Saturday in Michael Herbert Hall in Wilton at 11am.

A busy week meeting constituents

ONE of the most enjoyable aspects of this job is having the opportunity to meet and engage with so many different people.

It was only when looking back on a mammoth Friday afternoon surgery that it dawned on me that I had kept no fewer than 17 appointments and seen dozens of people, each with totally different life stories, problems and points of view.

A busy Friday was followed by a Saturday morning walk around the market and a welcome catch-up with some of the traders before dropping into the cancer information event at the Guildhall.

Maggie Rae of Wiltshire Council is to be commended for organising an excellent exhibition to mark World Cancer Day, bringing together an impressive roster of people and organisations to share their experiences and expertise on different cancers – providing useful information for local residents.

It was a pleasure to drive out to the Winterbournes and make the acquaintance of Wendy and Trevor Merrifield, who run Winterbourne Gunner's Post Office and stores. What an impressive business; providing a genuine helping hand to the community of which it is part. I look forward to giving them my full support in the weeks ahead.

Still in the Bourne Valley, I was pleased to visit the Link Scheme's new year party and to catch the end of the entertainment. I look forward to returning to the Glebe Hall on the evening of February 24 for a question and answer session.

In between, I squeezed in a visit to Salisbury Library where I was joined by the Culture Minister Ed Vaizey, who took time out of his weekend to celebrate National Libraries Day and highlight the excellent work of Wiltshire Council in keeping Wiltshire's library provision second to none despite severe financial pressures.

We are blessed to have a network of 300 volunteers across the county, whose efforts have ensured that provision here has not just remained constant but, in some cases, has actually increased.

Back in Parliament, it has been a week full of committees, the Arms Export Control, Defence Select Committee and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy to name but a few.

City has close links with Maldives

THE latest defence select committee report created a few waves last week by describing the inequality between how MoD redundancies have been distributed between civil servants and uniformed personnel as 'grotesque'.

It was an example of the power of one word to create a media storm.

Of course, it was not engineered to court controversy or to appeal to headline writers but to emphasise a genuine concern. Nevertheless, I trust that the attendant publicity will have played its part in ensuring that the MoD will make every effort to be scrupulously fair in its future treatment of members of our armed forces.

I was pleased to take the chance to follow up the publication of the report with a speech reflecting on the overarching need for accountability in the MoD and greater consistency and reliability in the measurement of outcomes.

I also made a speech on the long-term causes and challenges associated with youth unemployment as well as asking parliamentary questions on measures to address tax evasion and the threats to the young Islamic democracy in the Maldives.

Many people will be unaware that Salisbury enjoys close links with the government of the Maldives. Its president was educated here and lived in Salisbury during periods in exile and this was where he learned many of the principles of democracy that he is now seeking to establish in his home country.

Changing the political culture of a nation is not easy but I know that, in his endeavours, he enjoys the unwavering support and steadfast friendship of a large number of Salisbury people.

Following a lively Q&A session at Salisbury District Hospital with Salisbury's Medical Society on Friday evening, the pace in parliament has hardly slowed this week with a speech on "soft power" in British foreign policy.

I have a packed Friday and Saturday catching up with constituency matters including a visit to Bishopdown Farm Residents' Association and to St Osmund's Catholic Church.

On Saturday, I will be marking National Libraries Day in Salisbury with the culture minister Ed Vaizey before attending Bourne Valley Link Scheme's New Year party following last Friday's visit to Bourne Valley Day Centre.

Benefits equality needed

THE imposition of a benefits cap, if my postbag is at all representative, is something which strikes a chord with large numbers of Salisbury people.

Like most of my correspondents, I am proud to live in a country which makes provision for its most vulnerable and has enshrined the principle of caring for the needy into law.

However, it is indefensible for so many individuals and families with the capacity to work to be stuck in benefit dependency and be given an income far in excess of that of many of the hardworking families whose taxes go to pay for their benefits.

The cap being proposed is £26,000 a year, a sum which, it is worth remembering, equates to a salary of £35,000, far in excess of the national average wage.

In Salisbury, it is not hard to imagine a scenario in which both parents could work full-time and not receive that amount of money.

This is not in any way a punitive measure, it is about redressing the balance to deliver fairness to the hard-pressed taxpayer as well as support to the disadvantaged.

When worklessness has become a lifestyle choice, government owes it to the country at large to incentivise people to get back on their feet.

As with so much of government, even when the principle is just, the devil is in the detail and discussions continue about how best to implement changes without having a disproportionate impact on children, who should not be forced to pay a heavy price for their parents' poor choices. I have always maintained that one area in which greater fairness needs to be achieved is in the government's proposal to remove child benefit from all households containing a higher rate taxpayer.

The move incensed many constituents who felt it directly penalised single income households, while allowing families with combined earnings of more than £80,000 not to lose a penny. The issue now will be the practical costs of measuring household income but the will is there to come up with a solution which addresses this paradox, and I, for one, would welcome it.

Looking to save daylight

TOMORROW, I will be spending a rare Friday in Parliament in order to vote to progress the eagerly-anticipated Daylight Savings Bill.

Over the past few weeks, I have received dozens of emails and letters from constituents asking me to be in the House to follow up on my long-standing support for the idea of changing the clocks to give the UK an extra hour of daylight on winter evenings.

Unusually, constituents seem to be virtually unanimous in their praise of Rebecca Harris's Private Members Bill, with favourable comments outnumbering negative ones by at least 20 to one.

It is certainly the case that the Lighter Later coalition has successfully drawn together some 300 organisations as diverse as the FA, the Kennel Club, Greenpeace, RoSPA and the AA, demonstrating broad-based support for changing the clocks (in England, at least).

It is important to remember that, if passed, the Bill will not impose change.

Rather, success will be a firm undertaking from the government to undertake a full assessment of the pros and cons, possibly culminating in a trial period of change – something to which, at the urging of so many constituents, I am more than happy to lend my support.

In particular, striking figures are being quoted on the anticipated reduction in road traffic deaths and the economic benefits which lighter evenings would bring, attractive outcomes which certainly call for further scrutiny.

This week in Westminster, I joined a number of my colleagues in signing a Book of Commitment in the House of Commons.

Next Friday marks the 67th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, and the Holocaust Education Trust placed the book in the Commons to give MPs the chance to remember those who were both persecuted and killed.

The Trust also actively works to take a stand against racism and prejudice in our society today and to speak out against hatred.

History has provided us with some chilling lessons for modern life – lessons which we should never be too busy to reflect upon.

Support for eco-village

CONSTITUENTS often come to me seeking my support for an idea - be it a business brainwave, charity fundraiser or a policy initiative.

I am always delighted to do what I can to help - whether through introductions, writing to a minister or just acting as a sounding board.

Once in a while, someone walks through my door with an idea so simple and yet so bold that I can immediately share their vision and see exactly why they are willing to invest so much time and energy to get it off the ground.

One such was Suzie Butters, whose desire to see the UKLF site at Wilton developed into something more imaginative than a straightforward housing estate was certainly ambitious but has really succeeded in catching the attention of a lot of people in a remarkably short time.

A meeting is taking place at 11am this Saturday at Michael Herbert Hall, South Street, Wilton at which I have agreed to speak in support of the evolving plans for the site.

My next step will be to pursue ministerial input into the trailblazing project.

A great many practical hurdles remain to be negotiated and success is far from assured but I, for one, cannot fault the enthusiasm and initiative that has brought us to this point and I am delighted to lend my support and eager to see where we go from here.

The eco village, if realised, could provide not just dwellings for local people - including affordable housing - but also serve as a working showcase for cutting edge green technologies and, hopefully, in time, become a beacon of good practice and a template for other areas to follow.

Meanwhile, Parliament is back in full swing.

It has been a busy week during which I have attended ministerial meetings brokered on behalf of two constituents and, tomorrow, I am looking forward to a full day of constituency engagements, including meeting the leaders of Salisbury's United Reformed Church, lunch with the new Bishop of Salisbury and the opening of the new sports hall at The Trafalgar School in Downton.

Whites can thoroughly enjoy their moment of glory

NOT being a particularly active sportsman myself (I confine myself to a weekly game of squash in Westminster with my researcher – 5-1 to me since October if you are interested), I will not use this column opportunistically to associate myself with the success of local sporting teams.

However, I do recognise that an effective constituency member of Parliament needs to keep up with all aspects of life in our community. So for many in Salisbury this week, I note that there will be a growing sense of excitement as Salisbury City FC get ready to make their trip up to Bramall Lane to take on Sheffield United in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

Whatever the outcome, the Whites have done superbly well to get this far and a lot of the credit must go to manager Darrell Clarke, who has injected a great sense of urgency into the troubled club he took over just two years ago.

I won't make predictions, but I will be willing the Whites to extend their historic cup run. Win, lose or draw, the much-needed extra revenue will go a long way to help keep the club on the right track to future success.

I am looking forward to returning to Westminster on Tuesday. The year begins with some very concerning issues for the Government to address: the health scare around breast implants as well as the ongoing trial of dealing with the country's economic challenges.

I am also eager to hear the outcome of the Health Secretary's deliberations on the future of HPA Porton. I met with Andrew Lansley in December to reinforce, once again, the overwhelming case for keeping this established facility near Salisbury.

I am told a decision is to be made very soon.

Tough lessons to learn

HAVING enjoyed a few days to rest (when not busy helping the children with their bumper crop of Christmas homework), I hope that your festive break brought some relaxation with family and friends.

I'm grateful for the warm hospitality shown by members of the Wilton Hunt, whom I was delighted to join on Boxing Day at Odstock Manor, honouring the tradition observed every year by Salisbury's MP.

2011 has been a tough year and we cannot pretend that there will not be more difficult decisions to take and sacrifices to make in 2012.

The world economy is in a grave state and we are not isolated from the implications of our own debt burden and those of countries with which we trade.

Taking steps to curb the legacy of systemic overspending and reduce the deficit is undeniably painful and will continue to be so. If the experience of some Eurozone countries teaches us anything, it is surely that the alternative – allowing the economy to collapse, precipitating mandatory and indiscriminate cuts on a massive scale - is not just irresponsible, it is unconscionable.

Nevertheless, 2012 brings much to look forward to – not least the Jubilee celebrations and the Olympics. I am hopeful that the games will provide a timely boost to the nation's spirits and revenues and I share the excitement of many constituents about the visit of the Olympic torch to Salisbury.

I am becoming more and more aware that being an MP is not so much a job as a way of life. It continues to be a privilege to gain an insight into the concerns of constituents from all walks of life and to do my best to seek to resolve their problems and represent their views in Parliament.

My surgeries resume again on January 6 and appointments are available via my constituency office. I am looking forward to bookending the day with the opening of Wiltshire College's STEM Centre in the morning and addressing St Mark's Church's exciting new series of discussions on how politics and religion fit together in the lives of parishioners.

PM's decision on Europe was 'bold and historic'

THE last week's political news has been dominated by the prime minister's use of the national veto at the European summit in Brussels.

David Cameron went to Brussels with a constructive approach. He rightly recognised that sorting out the eurozone crisis is a priority for Britain. More than 40 per cent of our trade is with Europe and, therefore, ongoing uncertainty over the debt crisis does not help our own prospects for economic recovery.

The government wanted an "in principle"

understanding from the Germans and French that, given a very large proportion of Europe's financial services industry is based in the City of London, the UK would need to have some acknowledgement of this in any 27 member Eurozone "bail out"

agreement. Unfortunately, these safeguards were not forthcoming so David Cameron stood firm and did not sign up to something which could be so damaging for the UK economy.

The gap between Britain's interests and that of the rest of Europe was too great. This is not surprising given that we have not been part of the euro or in the driving seat of a federal agenda.

Greater fiscal discipline will be key to sorting out the eurozone's problems and it remains to be seen whether the intergovernmental agreement that will now be developed will achieve this.

What is key now for the UK will be to ensure that we have unconstrained trade in a single market. We need constructive but sensible engagement in the national interest and that must mean all options are open with respect to the future.

The world is changing, growth in the world economy will increasingly come from outside Europe, from China, India, and South America in particular. The UK must look east and south for economic growth.

We must not be sucked into a United States of Europe where the power of Westminster is continually undermined and our governance of economic interests threatened.

The decision by the Prime Minister last week was a bold and historic one, but it was the right one and the only one in the circumstances.

Tackling the scourge of unemployment

EVERY month, unemployment statistics in the Salisbury constituency reveal we have an unemployment rate in the region of 2.2 per cent. This makes us one of the 50 constituencies with the lowest level of unemployment in the country.

However, our relative good fortune does not detract from the personal tragedy suffered by people who experience unemployment. Most seriously, one-third of those claiming Jobseekers' Allowance in Salisbury are under 25; this is something which concerns me greatly.

Unemployment at a young age can establish the wrong expectations of working life and is very damaging. The government's recent announcement of a new Youth Contract worth £1billion has made an additional 250,000 subsidised work experience placements available nationally.

My experience of visiting and speaking to the owners of small and medium-sized businesses in Salisbury is that cutting the burden of unnecessary regulation is their top priority. However, I also see a great need for a return to apprenticeships.

Many of our young people are desperate to learn a trade but struggling to obtain a suitable placement. The challenge for government is to realise that, while successful apprenticeships are beneficial, very small and sole trader businesses take a huge risk when they commit their time and expertise to train an unproven youngster.

That is why I am pleased that the government has also announced the introduction of incentive payments for employers to take on apprentices. There will now be 20,000 extra incentive payments worth £1,500 each, taking the total number of payments available next year to 40,000. Youth unemployment and supporting small businesses were major themes of Tuesday's autumn statement by the chancellor.

His announcements also underlined the government's resolve to cut the deficit and restore public finances, which must remain our top priority. My recent conversations with Salisbury's Chamber of Commerce reveal the quiet determination of our business leaders to dig deep in these difficult times. It is, therefore, deeply disappointing that the planned strike action went ahead on Wednesday; particularly when, in many cases, 60 to 80 per cent of trade union members were either against the strike or did not vote for it.

Mental health issues

ONE of my keen interests as an MP is mental health and how to improve early access to the right treatments for people suffering from mental illnesses.

Great strides are being made towards dispelling the stigma surrounding mental health but there is still much work to do.

I recently chaired a mental health forum and on Monday night I attended an adjournment debate on improving access to acute and emergency care.

My day-to-day casework also teaches me about how "the system" works to both help and hinder people with chronic and intermittent mental health problems.

Contrary to what many people expect, much of mine and my staff's constituency time is taken up trying to unpick individuals' issues that are obstructing their benefits or impeding their access to the right housing, social care and support.

It is not easy and success is not guaranteed but my aim is always to challenge the culture of short-termism - saving money today without regard to how much the consequences might cost in the future.

My wish is to see different elements of the NHS and local authorities able to pull together to achieve an holistic approach to care that recognises that, looked at over the long term, the best interests of the individual and the taxpayer coincide more often than some people might think.

Finally, this week, my thoughts are with those families with children sitting entrance examinations for the district's rightly revered grammar schools.

I wish you well but, to those who do not make it, all is not lost. My visit to St Edmund's last Friday reinforced my belief that all of Salisbury's secondary schools provide an education we can be increasingly confident in.

Protecting service personnel is vital

LAST Thursday, I was pleased to be called to speak during the Armed Service Personnel debate in the House of Commons. I used the opportunity to raise the subject of insufficient wills and legal powers of attorney being set up by service personnel. Too often these documents are not in place when soldiers go off to war and, as a consequence, enormous complications occur when some return mentally incapacitated due to injuries.

I was pleased to secure a commitment from the minister to discuss how current procedures can be improved. It is my aim to have a trust set up to increase awareness of the need to have these important documents in place and provide assistance in completing the paperwork.

On Sunday, I attended the Remembrance Day service in the Market Place and St Thomas's Church – it was a great privilege to mark the sacrifices that so many have made, in the past and very recent past for our country.

This week has focused on fuel prices. I was one of the 100 MPs who signed the motion calling for the government to consider the impact increased taxes on fuel will have on our economy. So many constituents from in and around Salisbury need the government to relieve the tax burden on those who rely on their cars.

At the time of writing I am about to go to the chamber and hope I will be called to speak but, having sat through the unemployment debate last Wednesday and not been called, I may have to intervene on a colleague to make my point.

Pride as hall is opened

THESE are exciting times for Amesbury. I was delighted to attend the opening of Wyndham Hall the other weekend – a superb facility and a tribute to all those who worked hard to make it happen.

A consultation is under way on another proposal to turn one of Amesbury's public buildings, Melor Hall, into a community asset, this time with the aim of allowing the town to capitalise on its proximity to Stonehenge by opening a museum.

I do not prejudge the outcome of the consultation process but I commend the willingness of the mayor and councillors to explore creative ways to give the town centre a much-needed boost.

In the past week, my inbox has been full of reaction to the government's decision to accelerate the cutting of the solar feed-in-tariffs, which currently offer a 12 per cent return over 25 years. I am very sympathetic to the numerous constituents who have ordered panels only to find that they cannot get an installation date ahead of the change and have previously raised it with the minister.

On further investigation, I have learned that the adjustment rectifies a fundamental error in the level at which the previous government set the subsidy. I am all for making solar energy attractive but, at a 12 per cent return, it was downright lucrative and the goldrush of investors had put the scheme on the brink of collapsing altogether. When you consider the fact that, at a time of rising fuel costs, the subsidy was being met through the energy bills of consumers, the urgency of the need to correct this injustice becomes apparent. I am hopeful the new tariff rates, which equate to a guaranteed five per cent return, linked to inflation for 25 years will put the arrangement on a sustainable footing, which will allow solar technology to develop but not at disproportionate expense to ordinary non-solar households.

Listen and learn is my motto

THIS week started with three media interviews before noon on Monday – starting with Wiltshire Radio assessing the lessons we can learn from the Libyan campaign and what the implications are for future NATO missions elsewhere in the world. After attending parliamentary questions, I then co-hosted a session on the British Council's work in India.

So much of my time in parliament is spent listening and evaluating – taking in masses of information and evidence, seeking to find answers to constituents' problems as well as informing myself so the contributions I make are, hopefully, well-informed. On Wednesday, this meant listening to a briefing from a number of senior military personnel on a future defence White Paper. I then attended a global strategy forum round table discussion at the invitation of former Devizes MP Lord Lothian. I have recently taken on the chairmanship of the all-party parliamentary group on global uncertainties so this session was very useful.

The main business of this week has been the remaining stages of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill. This legislation will redefine the scope of civil legal aid, so it is more focused, effective and sustainable, and implement proposals to restore proportion to "no win, no fee" conditional fee arrangements. Reforms of sentencing legislation will also ensure offenders are properly punished and rehabilitated; these have also been discussed throughout the week.

On Friday, I will be meeting constituents as well as catching up with Simon Redmill, the leader of Salisbury City Church – one of our many lively, growing churches which provide authentic biblical Christianity in our city.

On Saturday, I will be at the hospital meeting with Salisbury's Parkinson's group. My weekend will conclude with attendance at Canon Scrace's final service in Harnham before he retires to Devon. I first met David 22 years ago when he took my grandfather's funeral at his previous parish in Chippenham – little did I know then I would attend his retirement service as his MP more than two decades later. I wish David and Gill a long and happy retirement.

Business needs must be balanced

LAST Friday I was invited to make a return visit to the Ambassador's Business networking breakfast at The Grasmere House Hotel.

It is always good to be able to meet assembled groups of constituents.

Salisbury's business community is a pretty resilient group and I was faced with some thoughtful questions about the burdens placed by government on small businesses.

There is no doubt that the government needs to be very careful when considering making changes to flexible maternity and paternity leave. The impact on small businesses, particularly those which employ one or two people, can be very destructive – well-intentioned social policy must also understand the realities of keeping a small business going in this tough economic climate.

I recall growing up in a small business in Wiltshire where my father's instincts were to do the right thing by his staff so that they would want to work hard for him. As he closed the business this summer, his four remaining employees had amassed 154 years' service between them. Such a record is achieved by commitment to staff, by being responsive to employees' needs and by building a sense of mission to serve customers before one's own interests. This cannot come from regulations but from a common sense approach to running a business.

My week in Westminster has been taken up with the defence select committee's second evidence session examining the conduct of operations in Libya.

The new secretary of state, as well as the Chiefs of the Defence and Air Staff and the First Sea Lord, offered evidence as we examine what lessons can be learned from this engagement. I also made a visit to Portsmouth on Tuesday for the Navy Day, which gave me some interesting perspectives on the recent defence review.

I look forward to a busy constituency weekend – with the opening of Seventh Heaven Craft Shop in Fisherton Street, a visit to Britford's Memorial and Community Hall and the opening of Wyndham Hall in Amesbury. I hope I will have enough energy left to host Emily's tenth birthday party on Sunday afternoon.

Key priority is to "avoid reinventing the wheel"

IT was a great privilege to be present at the enthronement of the new Bishop of Salisbury on Saturday. It was a unique occasion which will live long in my memory and I am confident that, in Nicholas Holtam, Salisbury has gained an engaged and engaging bishop, who will seek to serve his church and diocese with passion and industry.

After a particularly busy week in Parliament with my Westminster Hall debate on Innovation in the NHS and firing my first salvo in the House over Hampton Park II, it was a pleasure to get back to Salisbury and see democracy's power to do good being appreciated by the inquiring minds of the area's secondary school pupils. The workshops and debate at The Guildhall were a pleasure to be part of and the lively contributions of the young speakers did much to dispel the myth that our young people no longer value society.

Having been present at the topping out ceremony for Alabaré's new hostel back in May, it was hugely impressive to see it ready to open its doors in Barnard Street and with so much to offer people in need of a helping hand to get their lives back on track.

Reflecting on last week's news regarding the future direction of the plans for the market place and the 'adoption' of the project by Wiltshire Council's Area Board, I attended a meeting of campaigners and councillors, aimed at discussing the way forward. I think the key priority now is to avoid reinventing the wheel and wasting public money repeating the large amount of useful work which has already been done.

I am hopeful the project will successfully deliver modest refurbishment within parameters most will find acceptable.

Salisbury cannot afford for this work to be mired in ongoing differences of opinion but must seize the opportunity to proceed with a genuine improvement project in which the people of Salisbury feel fully involved from the outset. I wish Cllr Richard Clewer well as he seeks to convene a representative community working group to move things forward quickly.

Residents 'victims of bad timing'

THE best part of the week has been given over to examining in more detail the issues surrounding the secretary of state's decision to give the go-ahead to a major housing development at Hampton Park II. The decision flies in the face of the planning inspector's judgement that the site was unsuitable for so many homes, with such a dense, pseudo-urban layout.

I have received a large number of messages from residents who are justifiably angry about the outcome and accuse the minister of failing to deliver on the promises of localism. I share their bitter disappointment about the decision and am determined to do all I can to help.

Put simply, localism has not worked in this case because the Localism Bill has not yet been passed and Wiltshire Council has not yet put in place a core strategy setting out how much-needed housing should be provided, with safeguards in place. In the meantime, Labour's old regional spatial strategies are still enshrined in law and laying down exactly the sort of top-down housing targets which undermine local considerations.

Operating in a legislative void, it seems as if the minister took legal advice that, if he did not overturn the inspector's decision, the development would be likely to go ahead on appeal. It was a fundamental failing not to get a Wiltshire core strategy in place in time.

I will be calling for a debate on the issue and its implications in the House today and raising it with the minister at the earliest opportunity. Check back tomorrow morning for a transcript of the Oral Question I asked and the response given. The planning inspector who turned down HP2 in its current form unquestionably made the right decision for Salisbury but, ironically, it appears he did not frame the reasons for his decision in such a way that it could withstand legal appeal.

Barratt Homes has opportunistically made use of a time of transition to put in their application. To me, the fundamental question is why the secretary of state could not have delayed the decision until such time as a core strategy was in place and whether, in all conscience, he can now stand by and allow the residents of Hampton Park and Ford to be the victims of others' bad timing.

Helping Pakistan develop

I RETURNED from Pakistan on Saturday following a useful three-day trip.

My time was spent with a group of Pakistani Parliamentarians explaining how the role of an MP works in the UK and trying to identify ways of enhancing the function of their roles in Pakistan. I visited a British Council-sponsored school for children with special needs and the Christian Study Centre in Rawalpindi.

Despite all the shortcomings in our domestic political processes we were able to impart some valued experience to our friends in Pakistan.

The complex politics of the region means this trip will only be a small contribution on a journey of reform and evolutionary steps to maturity, but it is encouraging that the country does seem to be developing stronger democratic underpinnings.

n The decision last week by Eric Pickles to override the planning inspector on Hampton Park II is extremely disappointing and flies in the face of the general understanding of localism.

It seems that, without an adequately defined provision of housing needs across Salisbury and south Wiltshire in a revised core strategy, there appears to be no defence against this, despite the incredible work done by local residents and Councillors Moss and McLennan to successfully persuade the inspector of the flaws in the planning application for HP2.

Localism does not mean every householder has the right to stop all development near them, but it does mean local residents should define the shape of local development in the context of a local plan.

In this case, the constructive input from local residents has been set aside because a local plan to meet local needs is not yet fully formed.

What needs to happen now is for local (ie Wiltshire) planners to come up with a core strategy for Salisbury which does not give any room for the secretary of state to overrule the wishes of local people.

In the meantime, I have written to Eric Pickles and I will be seeking to raise the matter on the floor of the House when Parliament returns.

I will also be helping local residents to explore grounds for a challenge to this decision.

Keeping me on my toes

BY the time you read this column, I will be in Pakistan carrying out my duties with the Westminster Forum for Democracy and working alongside Pakistani parliamentarians.

However, despite rising before dawn on Tuesday morning, there was just time to join the Salisbury branch of the Alzheimer's Society on Monday night for the launch of the new evening memory cafe.

I am a big supporter of the Alzheimer's Society and was at their dog show in Newton Tony in the summer – an excellent event and typical of the fundraising which makes initiatives such as the evening memory cafe possible.

On Sunday, I was delighted to be able to support another of our prominent Salisbury charities by starting the Trussell Trust's 5k run and, on Friday, I furthered my understanding of – and admiration for - the work of Alabaré, by visiting a residential project for veterans it has set up in Weymouth. I started my Friday at another of Salisbury's business success stories, Independent Living Solutions of Wilton which, after 14 years in business offering lifelong financial advice and care packages for accident victims, is still growing and creating employment for local people.

I once again took on the lively intellects of the politics society at Bishop Wordsworth's School – an absolute pleasure but always guaranteed to keep me on my toes!

I look forward to spending the afternoon at Salisbury Races next Wednesday to assist with the launch of the Winterslow Calendar Girls' tour de force in aid of breast cancer – a great example of what can be achieved when a group of people possess the energy, ambition and sense of humour to turn a good idea into thousands of pounds for good causes.

Council must deliver efficiency

I WAS delighted to hear that the leader of Wiltshire Council, Jane Scott, is taking a lead in cutting management costs in local government by announcing a rationalisation of the authority's own senior management structure.

The loss of the chief executive post is a headline-grabbing move, but it is also an insightful recognition of where Wiltshire Council's focus should be – frontline public service.

I have met Andrew Kerr on a number of occasions and always found him to be a very committed and competent individual.

Nevertheless, when a leadership role commands a salary equal to that of the prime minister, it is not unreasonable for questions to be asked about whether any individual can possibly deliver value equal to that amount of money (basic salary of £183,000).

Any government organisation which fails to address staffing expenditure at the highest level cannot, with all integrity, go after savings at lower levels.

I have every confidence that, in future, the range of responsibilities of Wiltshire Council can be divided between service directors with no loss of provision and in a considerably more cost-effective manner.

On the subject of efficiency, the government's plans to reduce the number of MPs and equalise the number of constituents per seat moved on this week with Monday's announcement of the Boundary Commission's proposals to redraw the electoral map.

Many of you will already know that, at the last general election, the Salisbury constituency was made substantially smaller.

I am delighted to see that this week's proposals show "Salisbury" gaining back most of the areas lost in 2010 including Bulford, Durrington and Larkhill as well as the whole of the Fovant and Chalke Valley and Tisbury wards.

I know that many people in those areas still feel very strongly that they "belong" to Salisbury. Unhappily, as the new constituency size has been set at roughly 77,000 electors, I am likely to have to say farewell to the Till and Wylye Valley ward. The proposals will now go out for consultation but, in whatever form the changes are eventually implemented, I will carry on working hard for all my constituents.

New school looks great

THE summer recess is over and parliament is back in full swing.

However, before heading back to Westminster this week, I took the opportunity to visit the new Wilton Park School. It was great to see the old Middle School site once again vibrant and in use for educational purposes.

I wish Dr Evans all possible success as he navigates the task of bringing two schools together on one site, greatly adding to the diverse range of educational provision in and around Salisbury.

Back in London, it is straight back to business as usual. Yesterday, I was delighted to have a chance to catch up with Bryn Parry, the founder of Help for Heroes, who came to Parliament to address the Defence Select Committee, of which I am a member.

I asked the committee to hear from him as, following my visit to Help for Heroes, I felt he had a great deal to contribute to our understanding of the relationship between the charitable sector and the MoD, and how they can work together more effectively to achieve the best outcomes for our servicemen.

Later the same day, I hosted a meeting of MPs on behalf of the British Council, of whose all-party parliamentary group I serve as secretary.

These are exciting times for my office, as we welcome two new members of the team. Laura Mason, outgoing head girl of South Wilts, is joining my constituency team following an outstanding stint of work experience over Easter which persuaded my existing staff they simply couldn't do without her.

We are all thrilled she is with us and know that she will do a superb job, helping us to provide the best possible service to the constituents of Salisbury.

Also, 15 years after I served as a parliamentary intern with the Christian charity CARE, I am delighted that they are now kindly providing me with an intern to support my office in Westminster.

Recent graduate Stuart Ramsay shows exceptional promise and will be getting to know the team while he completes his induction training, co-incidentally hosted by Sarum College.

Exams paint picture

With both A Level and GCSE exam results now published, we can be very proud of our young people who have done extremely well in the recent public examinations.

It is always difficult to discern which schools have done especially well as most schools claim "best ever" or "excellent" outcomes, each highlighting different percentages of A*, A* to B, A*to C or A* to C including maths and English as the measure of their own success.

Statistics can be useful to show change over time (if used consistently) but the key issue is whether individuals have met their own personal gold medal aspirations? We all start off with different strengths, weaknesses and gifts, the challenge is to ensure the education we give our children maximises the "value added," and that maximum potential is realised. I congratulate our teachers and pupils on their hard work and look forward to meeting with local headteachers at the end of the month to discuss local education concerns.

A consistent focus in recent weeks' public debate about the causes of public disorder has been the behaviour of young people. Too many empty, unconstructive and negative comments have been made. I have been impressed by the vibrancy of our local youth - demonstrated in the commitment and professionalism shown by the Salisbury Area Young Musicians, the super-confidence of Bishops' sixth form Politics Society, the discipline of the Sea Cadets or the determination of the Stingrays swimmers.

Of course, there will always be individuals who disappoint, but we are fortunate to have many who are prepared to volunteer and provide stimulating extra-curricular activities which channel the energy and enthusiasms of the young.

Imperative that Libyan people decide the future of government

MY summer continues with a mixture of constituency visits and casework.

I enjoyed a fleeting visit to the inaugural fun day at The Friary on Friday as well Whiteparish's dog show on Saturday afternoon.

I was also pleased to support the Trussell Trust at their appeal at Waitrose on Saturday morning.

National news continues to be dominated by an ongoing analysis of sentencing and what should be the broader response to the riots as well as the developing situation in Libya.

On the riots there seems to be a difference opening up between those who say that there is no widespread decline in standards or morals and that the riots were a product of dysfunctional behaviour in small numbers of households and those who suggest the causes are deeply embedded in a liberal legacy that will need more than intervention in some communities to put things right.

I suspect, as is many aspects of the political discourse, neither side has it completely right.

I look forward to engaging fully in the debates when parliament returns in a few weeks time.

On Libya, the news from Tripoli is encouraging. At the time of writing the Gadaffi regime appears to be in full retreat with two of his sons detained by the rebels.

Clearly, it is a fluid situation and by the time this newspaper is printed more may be known – what is certain is that it is absolutely imperative that the Libyan people determine the nature of their future government.

We need to look deeply into the causes of riots

I HAVE spent two days this week in court sitting as a magistrate. I have been a JP for nearly five years and since becoming Salisbury's MP I have managed to keep up this voluntary role for at least one day a month. I cannot join the bench in Salisbury so I continue to sit in a Westminster court.

I do not know whether I will be faced with sentencing any of last week's rioters but it is quite clear that what we have seen in the past ten days is a wake-up call to society as a whole. We need to look deeply into the causes of the riots and define solutions that will provide long-term remedies to the shocking degradation in standards demonstrated in parts of our society. I do not think knee-jerk reactions such as removing the families of rioters from their council homes will be the right step to take. Although tough treatment for rioters themselves does need to take place, making people homeless solves nothing.

I think we need to focus on the gang culture and the dynamics of communities where crime and a lack of order have not been faced up to for too long. Last week in the House of Commons I asked the prime minister what "new and unique"

solutions the government had to offer and a detailed answer will emerge in the weeks ahead.

I fear we have been too concerned about rights and less focused on what active responsible citizenship involves so that the liberal freedoms of everyone can be maintained.

On Friday I will spend time with Shopmobility in Salisbury. I will then hold a summer surgery before visiting the Wyndham Arms to demonstrate support for Hop Back Brewery.

On Saturday I will be in Alderbury before handing out the prizes at Winterslow Horticultural Society's Summer Show.

Thoughts and prayers with Horatio's family

I START my column this week needing to refer to the saddest news since I took office and I am sure few in Salisbury could fail to be deeply impacted by the tragic death of seventeen-year-old Horatio Chapple in Norway last Friday.

I know the love and prayers of many thousands in this city will be with Horatio's parents David and Olivia and brothers Titus and Magnus as they come to terms with the enormous loss of their much loved son and brother in such heartbreaking circumstances.

I want to pay tribute to a young man who, although I only met him once, was by all accounts a great character who had already given so much to so many and had a bright future ahead of him.

On Tuesday I attended another meeting on parking at Five Rivers Leisure centre with the leaders of Wiltshire Council and representatives of the city's business community and residents.

The imminent re-introduction of a one-hour parking band was the key decision. I welcome this judgement as it was abundantly clear that the impact of the recent change was having a hugely negative impact on the business community, particularly the retailers in Salisbury.

I think it will be necessary to look creatively at what further steps can be taken to stimulate the local economy at a special meeting in late October.

I welcome the proactive attempts by Wiltshire Council to do this and to Cllr Richard Clewer in particular, who has taken the lead to try to put right this unfortunate decision.

Nevertheless, as was mentioned at the Area Board last Thursday evening, all actions have consequences and, although I agree with the constructive contribution from Cllr Paul Sample that without reversing the decision the people of Salisbury would have suffered in terms of lost jobs and revenues, we must also acknowledge that reversing the abolition of the one-hour charge will cost money (£540,000 is the figure quoted). The source of this saving has not yet been identified.

As someone who sees a whole range of needs at all levels and the way non-statutory grants by Wiltshire Council have been maintained to this point I only hope that the wider impact will be minimised. Politics is never straightforward - Tuesday's meeting reinforced the tough job the council has in an economic environment where the massive deficit impacts every aspect of our life locally and nationally.

£3.75bn savings are to be applauded

CONSTITUENCY engagements have continued this week and I have also been able to spend time looking more deeply into longer-term matters in the constituency. In particular, I welcomed the chance to discuss health matters with a local GP and spend time with local sixth formers, who were having work experience in my office.

I will be attending the Salisbury Area Board on Thursday evening at South Wilts school and look forward to making representations on behalf of my constituents as Wiltshire Council works out precisely how to resolve the parking issue.

Nationally, it has been pleasing to see that, in just ten months, the Government has saved £3.75 billion. This is the equivalent of 200,000 junior nurses or 150,000 secondary school teachers.

I suspect this is just scratching the surface but I hope the Coalition continues to root out and eradicate Whitehall waste while delivering on our plans to modernise our public services.

The highlight of this week for me has been the publication on Wednesday of the Defence Select Committee's report on the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR). This has been the product of many evidence sessions and, as a member of the committee, I have been actively involved in shaping the report's conclusions.

In essence the committee was not convinced that, given the current financial climate and the drawdown of capabilities arising from the Strategic Defence and Security Review, UK Armed Forces will be able do what is asked of them after 2015.

The report noted the mounting concern that UK Armed Forces may be falling below the minimum utility required to deliver the commitments they are currently being tasked to carry out, let alone the tasks they are likely to face between 2015 to 2020, when it is acknowledged there will be capability gaps. As someone who represents a constituency with a strong interest in these matters, I am determined to do what I can to ensure decisions for post-2015 funding will see a real-term funding increase – otherwise we will have failed our Armed Forces.

The MoD needs more certainty in its long-term planning and ten-year budgeting should be introduced. This would also give the MoD greater confidence in the decisions it takes in future SDSRs. However, as part of this, the MoD must reform, and ensure substantially improved transparency and control over its finance and budgetary practices.

Valuable time to catch up

THIS week is my first full week away from Parliament and I spent most of my time visiting local businesses, individual constituents and holding one-to-one meetings.

My main office in Brown Street will be open throughout the recess, and I will be answering email over the holiday period.

However, the Parliamentary recess does offer valuable time to catch up on research and writing which is often not possible in the hectic schedule of Parliament.

This week, I visited Hedley Davis Court and St Paul's Club on Devizes Road. A visit to Broad Chalke show with Emma and the children on Saturday afternoon will be a pleasant end to the week.

I am still reflecting on what conclusions we should draw from the phone-hacking scandal which seems to have engulfed the national press. Although I expect the judge-led inquiry and police investigation to get to the truth, bring guilty parties to justice and establish new norms around how politicians, the police and the media relate to one another, my bigger concern is around how the economy gets back on its feet.

I share the frustration of Business Secretary, Vince Cable, as we see growth figures which are slow to improve. Sadly, it rather underscores the fact that problems created when a government spends way beyond its means cannot be fixed overnight. Rather like a credit card which has maxed out - and the minimum payment on monthly interest alone becomes a significant line item of monthly expenditure - the need to deal with the debt has to be the top priority.

Following my visit to Crusader Carpets in Landford last Friday, I am also sure there is an urgent need to relieve small businesses from expensive regulation, burdensome and unnecessary health and safety rules as well as deliver lower business taxes as an incentive to investment for future growth.

Mixed feelings on Army reform

The News of the World scandal has continued to snowball, with further high-profile resignations in the past week.
With the independent judge-led enquiry now in place, I am hopeful that we are now moving towards a thorough and fair examination of the issues that will strike the right balance between upholding decency without undermining the freedom of the press.
Like all MPs, I have been following developments with close attention, mindful of the strength of feeling among so many of my constituents.
However, other serious matters continue to make demands on my time in parliament. This was an important week for the Defence Select Committee, of which I am a member, with the publication of our first report into our troops' deployment in Afghanistan.
We have also heard plans for significant reform of the Army outlined in the Commons – proposals about which I have mixed feelings.
Away from Westminster, I enjoyed a particularly varied weekend of constituency engagements. It was both a pleasure and an eye-opener to learn more about the remarkable work of CI Precision in Churchfields. The Roberts family have grown their business into a remarkable high-tech hub and manufacturing operation right in the heart of Salisbury.
An all too fleeting visit to Salisbury Museum gave me the chance to catch up on its exciting plans for the future and also to see the Constable in Salisbury exhibition which, for anyone who has not yet been, is definitely not to be missed. I will definitely return with my family to enjoy it at our leisure.
Founders Day at Bishop Wordsworth's was an impressive event and, while I am on the subject of Salisbury institutions, my congratulations go to all of the performers of Salisbury Area Young Musicians, whose concert I very much enjoyed on Sunday afternoon.
It was two hour of utter professionalism, fantastic versatility and staggering accomplishment – I wish them well on their trip to Xanten.

Journalism must change

POLITICS sometimes generates real watershed moments and this week I feel we are seeing the beginning of a radical shake-up in the way tabloid newspapers operate in our country.

The full extent of the changes has not yet been fully worked out and the full implications are not yet understood, but change is coming and I believe it will be a healthy development.

Many constituents have written to me in utter despair at what they have read about the way News of the World journalists have behaved in hacking into private telephone conversations of people during their most vulnerable moments.

But, as with the MPs' expenses scandal a few years ago, sadly, there are some innocent bystanders. In this case some very good journalists who have lost their jobs in the clearout at News International.

As Rupert Murdoch tries to stem the haemorrhage of support for his company by shutting down his discredited title, his battle to control BSkyB now looks a desperate one, as well it might.

Frankly, over the years, having worked for three Conservative party leaders for brief periods over the last decade I was always frustrated by the way senior politicians have been prevented from speaking more from the heart as they have had to worry about what the papers would say.

Too often fear of the media prevents us from saying how it really is. However, it is also true that the political process brings complexity.

One cannot simply react to awkward circumstances by banning things overnight – and one vote in the House of Commons will not change the culture of newspaper journalism.

Nevertheless I do believe the decision by Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt to refer News Corporation's bid for BSkyB to the Competition Commission will put the brakes on talk of mergers and it will also lead to the cleaning up of vile practices which have blighted the reputation of tabloid journalism.

Defence challenges

FOLLOWING on from the adjournment debate last week, I have spent some time reflecting on the reforms of the Ministry of Defence as set out in Lord Levene's report which was published last week.

One of the great advantages of being the MP for Salisbury is that there is so much expertise in the constituency on matters related to defence – therefore I have to make sure I am on top of it.

Whenever I meet ex-service personnel they always offer well-honed and strongly-held views on what needs to be done.

I hope the Levene reforms will simplify the command structures within the department and avoid duplication and waste – but these frequently-stated objectives are more challenging to achieve in practice than in theory.

On Thursday last week, I visited the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, with my defence committee colleagues.

We spoke to a number of amputees and their families to gain a first-hand understanding of their experience of the support available from the MoD and charities to those who have suffered horrific wounds in Afghanistan.

These conversations are vital to inform our work to enshrine the military covenant in law and I hope that I and other committee members will be able to meet with the Prime Minister soon to give some feedback on the visit.

I spent an energising couple of hours on Saturday morning going door-to-door around the Bishopdown area before dropping in to get a flavour of the festivities at Wilton Carnival.

I plan to be "at large" again over this coming weekend and am more than happy to discuss any matters of concern – be they personal, connected to national policy or to do with the local authority.

Please feel free to get in touch over any issue which may concern you.

Experiencing delight - and frustration - over Porton

I WAS delighted to hear the news from the MoD that 670 high-skilled science and engineering jobs will be moving from Kent to Dstl at Porton over the next five years.

This is great news for Salisbury and will boost the local economy through the money that these new employees, who will be supporting the nation's work in Afghanistan and our counter-terrorism efforts, will spend in our local shops and businesses.

However, I raised my frustration (again) at Business Questions in the House of Commons at the lack of clarity from the Government on the future of HPA Porton. I await a response.

This week has seen my second adjournment debate which I moved on Wednesday evening to urge the Government to examine ways of improving access to mortgages for serving armed forces personnel.

While it is true that much has been done in recent years to improve military accommodation, further changes are needed on the home ownership front to make it easier for serving personnel. As usual, I will be visiting a local school on Friday - this week it is Sarum St Paul's.

It is remarkable to see the commitment of local teachers to their pupils.

However, there is no doubt that the Government is adopting some tough lines in negotiations on pensions reform across the public sector, but, as I said in my speech last week in the Commons, we cannot ignore the demographic changes which mean people are living so much longer, nor the reality of the financial position the Government is in.

Finding time to hear local farmers' concerns

LAST Friday, I took the opportunity to focus on rural affairs. Following a call with the excellent Minette Batters, NFU chairman for Wiltshire, who always puts me right on matters impacting farming, I visited the RSPB reserve at Winterbourne Down at Newton Tony.

I was keen to gain a reaction to the recent DEFRA Natural Environment White Paper which outlined the Government's vision for the natural environment.

Conversations with Phil Sheldrake made me aware of the possibilities for farmers to accommodate environmental concerns and I look forward to hearing farmers' perspectives next month when I meet up with Minette and other south Wiltshire farmers for some input on how they see the Government's priorities and record to date.

I finished my morning with a visit to Wiltshire Wildlife Rescue, also at Newton Tony. Mike and Marilyn are doing so much to rehabilitate a massive range of animals – some injured in road traffic accidents, others the worse for conflicts within the animal kingdom. I was extremely impressed with their dedication and vision for the work which serves the whole of the county.

At Westminster this week, I asked a question concerning planning guidance in Alderbury and we had the debate on pension reform and on the future of Southampton's children's cardiac surgery unit. I hope to make a visit to the hospital after Parliament breaks up next month to keep the pressure up before this critical decision is made.

Before my surgery tomorrow, I will be speaking to Year 8 pupils at Chafyn Grove about my first year as an MP – I hope they will be more interested than William and Emily (my stepchildren) who often "zone out" when it comes to their stepdad's work. Emily (aged nine) is refreshingly straightforward in her assessment: "All you do is sit around talking." Well I suppose that is true to some degree but it is whether people find my arguments compelling and decisions are made for the good of my constituents.

I hope my ongoing dialogue with cllr Jane Scott and cllr Dick Tonge about the Salisbury parking issue can lead to positive outcomes.

Wiltshire Council needs to develop a solution which makes sense for our uniquely-sized retail sector and the diverse rural communities which need to park in the centre of our beautiful city.

However, it has to be said that, given the funding pressures Wiltshire Council faces, they have done a great deal to protect vital frontline services in many areas. Getting everything right all the time is something few of us manage.

Voluntary policing helps community

LAST Friday I had the opportunity to go on patrol with Street Watch on Bemerton Heath. This is a new initiative, which originates from Hampshire, and is being piloted locally.

The idea is that members of the public will spend time, in pairs, voluntarily patrolling the streets of their community noting down any concerns that arise.

Working closely with police community support officers and the community beat manager, in this case PC Simon Davies, the community creates a central point for gathering information on a simple database. The scheme allows residents to feel that there is some visible support from public-spirited people.

I was impressed with the simplicity of the scheme, necessitating very little cost but already having a big impact on relationships within the community and increasing the responsiveness of the police to local crime.

Wiltshire Police envisage that the scheme can be rolled out across the constituency in the future. Perhaps the residents of The Close will be keen to consider it now that the Close Constables no longer exist?

Following my patrol and a brief visit to see Edward Callaghan at Bemerton Heath's Neighbourhood Centre to see progress at the new multi-purpose hall that Ricky Rogers and his team are rapidly building I moved on to meet South Wilts Mencap members' at their Carers lunch in the Arts Centre.

I continue to maximise my visibility around the community – I look forward to attending Salisbury District's Older Peoples' Forum in Exeter Street on Friday and the dedication service of the new church bells at St Andrew's Church, Nunton as well as speaking at a village barbecue in Bishopstone on Sunday.

Healthcare issues must be addressed

AMONG the most distressing moments as an MP are the times when someone comes into my surgery to seek help when "the system" has failed them. Sometimes, I am able to write a letter or call up an official or professional and sort out the problem.

Sometimes, this is not possible when the source of the difficulty is rooted in deeper problems and this is what happened spectacularly at Winterbourne View Care Home in Bristol (a home which is not connected in any way with Winterbourne Care Centre in Salisbury), as seen on the BBC's Panorama documentary last week.

No-one could fail to be deeply moved by a situation where vulnerable people were brutally treated in a place where they should have been given special care.

I have written to the minister responsible seeking assurances about the resourcing of the inspection regime in the first instance, but there is a lot more that will need to be examined in the weeks ahead.

Parliament reconvened on Tuesday after the half-term break and an immediate area of focus will be NHS reform. I am frustrated that the debate so far has failed to acknowledge that an increasingly ageing population and increased scientific advances creating more demand as well as high costs of medicines mean reforms are needed in the way services are commissioned and delivered. I frequently encounter situations where the Primary Care Trust says a Salisbury patient must go to Devizes or Bath for a minor operation even when the local GP would prefer it to be done at Salisbury District Hospital.

I trust our local GPs to commission the services local constituents want, and I don't believe we should rule out opening up the provisioning of health services by local GPs to new, high-quality providers.

What is needed now are wise moves which acknowledge and act upon health professionals' legitimate concerns, but the Government must not dodge the realities of delivering high-quality healthcare in 2011.

Special relationship continues

Barack Obama's visit to Westminster was an historic event - the first time a US President has addressed both houses of Parliament. The President's description of the shared interests between the US and our country made it clear that despite all the subtle differences discerned by sharp-eyed journalists recently the historic ties between the two countries mean that the special relationship remains in good health and the US's principled approach to the world's "black spots" remains broadly in sync with our own Government's approach.

Prior to the speech I was pleased to join supporters of Alabare on the River Thames to discuss the vital work that our Salisbury-founded charity is now doing to provide customised support and care for ex-service personnel who sometimes need special assistance when returning to civilian life.
Andrew Lord and his team are an impressive crew who are consistently developing new provision for the needs of the most vulnerable. Their insights inform my approach to the work I am doing for the Defence Select Committee on the Military Covenant.

I also spent at half day visiting DSTL at Porton Down . I was very impressed by the range of world-class scientific research leading to life-saving solutions for our military's needs in theatre. I have to acknowledge the passion and commitment of the staff – particularly Nick Stokes who showed me the incinerator – I have very few fears about the safety of the work at Porton or the impact it has on our local environment. I hope to pay further visits in the coming year to support the leadership as they seek to develop the site and bring more employment opportunities to our constituency.

On Friday my surgery was well attended as usual – necessitating some follow up home visits and numerous letters to different agencies of government. It is a privilege to be able to "go into bat" for my constituents. I am not always able to score the quick runs I would like but my team in Brown Street do work extremely hard.

Before I spend a few days with my much neglected family over half term I wanted to mention my visit to River Bourne Community Farm at Laverstock on Friday. David Law gave me a superb tour and the farm is now established as a valuable resource for the city – educating the young about the ways of rural life as well as providing a haven for grandparents as they seek to fill time with their inquisitive grandchildren! I urge everyone to visit to see the progress at Cow Lane on their Open Day on 12th June (10am – 5pm).

£2.20 for ten-minute car park stay felt steep

Regular readers of this column will know that one of my favourite duties is spending time in this constituency's excellent schools. Friday was doubly pleasant in that, as well as an advice surgery and home visits, I managed to fit in two school visits – to Woodlands and Whiteparish Primary Schools.

I would like to thank both heads – Matthew Kitley and Kate Heathcote, for welcoming me so warmly and making it a thoroughly worthwhile day. I never fail to be uplifted by the passionate care and commitment shown in our schools day in, day out.

After a most enjoyable late night witnessing the excitement surrounding Salisbury Festival's opening night, I was glad to start a busy Saturday with a refreshing early morning swim at Five Rivers, home of the Salisbury Stingrays.
This swimming club is an example to all clubs of its type – somehow finding equal amounts of energy to devote to coaching promising youngsters, supporting top quality competitors on the national stage and nurturing a thriving community of swimmers of all ages and abilities.

As well as being a club with bags of heart, the Stingrays also have big ambitions. They want to push on to the next level of competition and make waves in national competitions. To that end, they are on a mission to secure better facilities and more swimming time – aims that I am determined to do all I can to help them achieve.

It has been another week of vocal complaints concerning parking charges in Salisbury – doubtless spurred on by the Journal's sterling campaign. As many people will know, prior to the vote on the issue last December, I made representations to the council urging leniency for both Amesbury and Salisbury.

I am pleased that Amesbury was subsequently successful in retaining some free parking in its town centre. Salisbury, needless to say, was not so fortunate.

All I can say is that, dashing from one constituency engagement to the other, £2.20 for a ten-minute stay in the central car park certainly felt pretty steep! Parking campaigners, I feel your pain!

On Sunday, I enjoyed turning dog show judge at the Alzheimers Society's dog show and fete in Newton Tony before turning my attention back to Westminster and a week, which will bring the final sittings of the Welfare Reform Bill Committee and a visit to Westminster Hall by US president Barack Obama.

Help save local children's cardiac centre

I WOULD like to highlight a critical campaign I have become involved with, the campaign to save Ocean Ward – the brilliant children's cardiac surgery centre in Southampton that has saved and continues to improve the lives of so many Salisbury children.

Last week I attended a meeting in Parliament about the ongoing national review of children's cardiac surgery, which aims to reduce the number of paediatric cardiac surgery centres.

The national team is looking at four options but Southampton only features in one of those options. This has, rightly, come to be known as the 'quality option'.

However, the national team is also factoring in travel times and volume of procedures in making their final decision. How these are calculated is critical. It seems clear to me that the major driver behind the choice should be quality of the service offered, and Southampton is nearly the best.

I understand it can be difficult to judge surgical quality by judging different operations each with unique complications but surely it is outcomes that matter, that is the number of children who go on to live happy, healthy lives.

As Professor Sir Ian Kennedy, who chaired the independent panel which assessed the cardiac centres, recently wrote: "Mediocrity must not be our benchmark for the future."

I have serious concerns that there is a risk of this being the outcome if Southampton is not among the centres chosen.

The bar for "quality" needs to be kept very high.

I have had a number of moving letters, surgery visits and emails from constituents who owe their children's lives to the excellence of Ocean Ward but the groundswell of public opinion in favour of saving Ocean Ward goes far beyond those with personal experience of it.

There is a public consultation open on this review and I would urge everyone to go online and respond as soon as possible to ensure that the 'quality option' is chosen and Ocean Ward can go on providing the excellent service it has become known for.

The website can be found at specialisedservices.nhs.uk/safe_sustainable/ public-consultation-2011.

Emphatic referendum result has 'put to rest lingering concerns'

I WAS pleased to see an unequivocal outcome to last week's referendum on the proposed change to our voting system.

The emphatic nature of the "no" vote was sufficient to put to rest any lingering concerns about how the campaign was conducted on both sides.

People clearly do not want a change and I felt this was a very strongly-held view in Salisbury.

Although we in Wiltshire did not elect local councillors this time around, I have always thought that, at a local level, it is important for me to try to avoid drawing a distinction between party banners and I acknowledge Salisbury has many hard-working individual councillors from all parties who serve their communities brilliantly.

Locally, I seek to support all policies which are good for Salisbury and avoid party bickering as much as possible.

It was another packed Friday last week, visiting constituents' homes and businesses and holding a surgery in Winterbourne Earls, as well as shinning up a ladder to take part in the topping out ceremony for Alabaré's impressive new half-way hostel in Dolphin Street. I am sure it will do marvellous work readying people to return to fulfilled lives and independence.

On Sunday, it was an honour to be invited to speak on a panel at an interfaith meeting at Harnham community hall – an enjoyable and thought-provoking discussion of the common desire for peace and avoidance of war from representatives from the Muslim and Christian faiths.

We also examined how to nurture mutual understanding in the face of extremism which has distorted the underlying doctrines, of the Muslim faith especially.

Much to remember this week!

This week marks the first anniversary of my election as MP for Salisbury and I was reminded of the great privilege of the role when attending the official re-opening of the Guildhall last Thursday evening.
Cllr Derek Brown gave me a well informed tour of the refurbished rooms. I am sure the "new" building will provide the City with a great resource, accessible to the community for everyday use whilst preserving treasured memories of Salisbury's proud civic history.
Parliamentary business has been shorter than usual this week due to the Bank Holiday and local elections and AV Referendum on Thursday but I spent most of Tuesday in the Welfare Reform Bill Committee and responding to constituents' letters. I am looking forward to getting back in the chamber more when this committee stage is concluded.
As ever, trying to achieve the right balance between being an active parliamentarian and Defence Select Committee member whilst prioritising local constituency interests in whatever way I can remains an ongoing challenge!
Last week in the Defence Select Committee we had the Secretary of State for Defence, Liam Fox as our witness and I asked him about the situation in Syria.
Whilst I voted in favour for the action taken in Libya to enforce a no fly zone it is absolutely critical that all steps are taken to use diplomatic and political pressure to encourage other countries in the region to stop using murderous methods to suppress their citizens' legitimate aspirations for political freedoms.
I was pleased to hear Liam Fox say again that exhaustive efforts were used in Libya before the step to enforce a no-fly zone was reluctantly taken. I was also impressed by the note of humility he struck when concluding his remarks in pointing out that politicians cannot predict what is going to happen!
Events in the Middle East and North Africa this year underscore this observation but the surprise news that Osama bin Laden was killed on Monday was very welcome given the role he has played in projecting terror across the globe.
I look forward to a full and busy Friday and weekend of constituency visits, a surgery as well as attending the "topping out" ceremony of the new Alabare hostel on Friday. I will also be taking time on Friday evening to watch the Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew play Wiltshire Police in a match to raise funds for The Trussell Trust at Salisbury City FC!

Reforming Welfare

Following a wonderful Easter with such fantastic weather I returned to Westminster on Tuesday with a resumption of my work scrutinising the Welfare Reform Bill. This will continue until 24th May every Tuesday and Thursday.
This legislation is designed to focus the benefits system on those who really need it and find better ways of encouraging those who are able to work to take those first steps back into the working environment – even if this is a few hours a week to start with.
When sitting listening and contributing to this scrutiny process I am struck by the wide gap between the attitudes of Labour and Conservative Party MPs on this issue. I have deep respect for the commitment of many of the Labour MPs to their arguments but I find little in common with them from my perspective.
My starting point is that, all things being equal, work is a good thing – it is good for the character, good for building self-esteem, self-reliance and ultimately a fulfilling life.
I totally accept that there are those who are unable to work for a variety of reasons. Life is not always kind - bereavement, poor education, ill health, family problems, redundancy and accidents can all lead to situations were working is not possible and I want to make sure that the state will continue to properly evaluate the needs of individuals who are unable to work and provide them with the necessary support to see them back onto a path to employment.
In some cases this may take a while and for very few it may not be a realistic option but I do not accept that dependency on the state for benefits is an inevitable path that is irreversible or one that always has to last a long time.
I hope that the changes in the Bill will focus benefits on the genuinely vulnerable but provide incentives to encourage others to become self-supporting where this is possible.
It may interest readers to know that the number of unemployed claimants in the Salisbury constituency in March 2011 was 1,062. This means that less than one in forty working aged people in Salisbury claim unemployment benefits. Salisbury is the 577th highest of the 650 UK constituencies.
I don't doubt the difficulties facing those families who are impacted by unemployment and we need to develop economic conditions where this number is reduced further but it is good to know that despite challenges in the economy Salisbury is, relatively, not in bad shape!

AV or First past the post!

This week I have taken a few days family time with Emma and the children - we even managed to fit in a long promised day out at Paultons theme park on Monday which I can heartily recommend.
However, as the Referendum debate intensifies I was pleased to support the NO2AV campaigners in Salisbury Market Square on Saturday.
I am in no doubt that the proposed change to our voting system would not be beneficial for the country.
I cannot understand why we want to spend money changing to a new voting system at this time, when there are so many other priorities of a higher order to deal with.
But if we do have to have a national referendum on such a critical constitutional matter then I think we should have one on the basis of a proposed alternative that has been adopted in other comparable countries.
In fact, the AV (Alternative Vote) system is only used in national elections in Fuji, Papua New Guinea and Australia – and most Australians want rid of it!
The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg supports the change but he once described AV as a "miserable little compromise". I don't want our electoral system changed to one that is a compromise but only one that is tried and tested and will bring us a guaranteed improvement in the way politics is conducted.
It is true that no system of election is perfect and First Past the Post, our current voting system, is not ideal in every way but it has led to stable government in this country for a very long time and it stops smaller parties holding the balance of power forever.
I fail to see how can it be democratic for a few MPs from a minor party to hold the majority party to ransom on an issue that only their supporters value – this is most likely to happen if we adopt AV.
So for the record I will be voting NO to AV on 5th May!
I look forward to a return to Parliament next Tuesday when I re-start the scrutiny of the Welfare Reform Bill in committee but before that I will attend our St George's Day Pageant and Harnham's Medieval Fayre & Great Harnham Duck Race on Easter Monday.
Happy Easter and Happy St George's Day!

Visit to USA with Defence Select Committee

Parliament is now in recess until 26th April so I will be spending more time meeting constituents and attending local events in Salisbury over the coming Easter break.

However, I want to use this column to report back on my Defence Select Committee visit to the US last week. It involved a call at Central Command in Tampa, Florida where, would you believe, I bumped into two of my constituents in the briefing with US General Mattis!

We heard about the way the US organises the military with alliance countries in their HQ for the "Central" region of the globe.

On Tuesday we moved on to Norfolk, Virginia where the Committee was shown around the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier. It was an opportunity for us to examine the views of US Navy on the UK's recent review of defence spending. The overwhelming feedback was reasonably positive but this perhaps reflects the fact that the UK has been the most consistent ally of the US rather than a great enthusiasm for the cuts that all major countries face in defence spending at the current time.

On Wednesday we drove to Washington where we met various US congressmen and senators and received a briefing on the current position of operations in Afghanistan and Libya. As ever with these visits it is about listening carefully to what we are not told and, like an elaborate jigsaw, trying to work out what the full picture looks like. We have much to ponder as we work on several reports over the coming months.

Back in Salisbury I have been busy meeting constituents, holding a bumper pre-Easter surgery and getting to know two local sixth formers who have been gaining some work experience in my office this week.

On Saturday I am attending a Girl Guiding Conference – and will be meeting members of the local Parkinson's Society branch at Salisbury District Hospital too.

I also hope to fit in a few days off with my family in the run up to Easter.

I have to offer an apology for an error in my article last week – in it I referred to opening the Sea Cadets HQ. I did attend the impressive opening event before flying off to the US early the next morning.

Knowing how hectic a week it would be, the article was written in advance and in haste and, being in very sporadic email contact throughout the trip, I'm afraid I neglected to correct it.

I really strive to get the balance right between informing constituents about what I do and also offering my opinions on pressing local matters and I am sorry for this slip.

A busy birthday and a trip overseas

By the time you are reading this, I will be on my second overseas trip with the House of Commons Defence Committee.
Having visited Afghanistan last November, my colleagues and I are journeying to defence establishments and meeting key personnel in Tampa, Florida and Washington DC.
I had an enjoyable birthday in the constituency last Friday, when my usual busy round of engagements included touring CI Electronics on Churchfields Industrial Estate and holding my latest advice surgery at Wilton.
Having been made aware of the wonderful work of the Salisbury Child Contact Centre in allowing the children of relationships that have broken up in difficult and complex circumstances to retain a relationship with their absent parent, I was delighted to spend some time there on Saturday.
It is not easy to keep the service going with limited means and relying entirely on volunteers, but the rewards of the joy and emotion when parents and children are reunited to spend precious time together are there for all to see.
It was my most pleasant duty to attend the opening of the new headquarters of Salisbury Sea Cadets. They are already a thriving group of talented and enthusiastic youngsters and I have no doubt that their new HQ will help them continue to go from strength to strength.
I flew to Florida on Sunday and, although I am in the US all week, taking part in packed schedule of meetings, I will actually only miss a day and a half in Parliament. Easter recess has just commenced and I am looking forward to spending more time in Salisbury in the next couple of weeks.
I plan to pass the time on the long flight back, giving some thought to my speech at the Salisbury Samaritans' AGM!

Very happy to get my hands dirty

On Friday, I spent my latest day of volunteering getting my hands dirty with the excellent staff and clients of the Shaw Trust. This was my second thoroughly enjoyable visit to the nursery and workshop, which employs disabled people, helping them develop the skills and confidence they need to enter the world of work.

On Saturday, I was honoured to be asked to declare the new Farley Fox playground officially open. The culmination of years of effort by the community, it is a superb facility that I am sure will enrich the lives of many young people.
While I was in that next of the woods, I pressed on to Winterslow Horticultural Society's spring show. I presented the prizes at last year's summer show and they were kind enough to invite me to make a return visit.

Meanwhile in Westminster, it is a busy time. In addition to my membership of the Defence Select Committee, I have been appointed to the Welfare Reform Bill Committee. Over the next two months, in 28 two-hour sessions, I and a representative group of colleagues from all parties will be scrutinising the bill line by line.

I know from numerous constituents how much anxiety possible changes to their benefits are causing and I will be mindful of those concerns as I work to ensure that the benefits system in future, not only protects society's most vulnerable but also rewards the attitude of honest claimants by always making work pay.

In particular, I have heard powerful representations about how Disability Living Allowance is assessed and paid. I could not agree more that the system for evaluation must be instilled with a greater degree of sensitivity, while also being rigorous enough to discern the most deserving people from those who may be 'playing the system'.

Finally, this week, my staff and I are saying a sad farewell to David Webber, a local boy who jumped in at the deep end soon after I was elected and has done a magnificent job as my intern. We will miss his easy-going sense of humour as much as his hard work and wish him well as he returns to his studies at Aston University.

Marketing our city to the hilt

TOURISM has been at the forefront of my mind over the last week - and particularly ways in which we can promote Salisbury as not just a place for a daytrip but also as an ideal base from which to explore both coast and countryside.

As well as having Salisbury Cathedral, Old Sarum and Stonehenge on our doorstep, we are blessed in our proximity to the New Forest and the seaside and we need to recognise the important part tourism plays in our local economy and to maximise the benefits we all receive from it.

It was a pleasure to spend some time last week with the superb staff of Salisbury Tourist Information Centre, helping to promote British Tourism Week and talking through the issues which need to be addressed to make Salisbury an even more attractive destination.

No wonder they are multi award-winners. Not only are Jane Fry and her team unfailingly friendly and knowledgeable - but their love of Salisbury is genuine and really shines through in all they do.

In the past few weeks, I have also met with hoteliers who are keen to see VAT in the hospitality industry reduced to give the sector a much-needed boost ahead of the 2012 Olympics.

Whether ministers can be persuaded the hospitality industry merits special treatment in recognition of the importance of the next 18 months for UK tourism remains to be seen.

Nevertheless, I believe there is plenty we can all do closer to home to improve the visitor experience in Salisbury.

I was delighted to read Ian Newman's call for co-operation in his latest Salisbury City Centre Management (CCM) chairman's message.

As well as highlighting the marvellous work being done by Visit Wiltshire, Destination Salisbury and the imminent launch of CCM's own one-stop directory website, Ian calls for all concerned to recognise they are not in competition with each other but are working towards the same common goal - a more vibrant and prosperous Salisbury.

I could not agree more and I will be doing all I can to do my bit to encourage more people to appreciate our beautiful city.

Frustration over HPA

Last week I took the opportunity to press for an update on one of the most important issues facing the constituency – the possible relocation of the Health Protection Agency away from Porton Down.

During business questions in the House, I asked the Leader of the House Sir George Young to make a public statement on how the government's thinking has moved on in the last six months.

Since October 12th, when the Minister visited Porton with me and indicated a decision by the end of last year was likely, we have heard nothing and I think it is important to keep the pressure up.

As MP for our neighbouring constituency of North West Hampshire, Sir George knows the issues associated with the future of the HPA well and assured me that a decision will be reached as soon as possible.

I am, of course, frustrated by the delay but I would rather wait if doing so means that we can reach a conclusion that recognises the importance of, not only securing the HPA's long-term viability so that it can continue to serve the public, develop vaccines and tackle public health crises, but also allowing it to explore new revenue streams so that it can offer certainty to its dedicated and expert staff – including those based at Porton Down.

My latest constituency engagements have seen me spending time with constituents of all ages – from the very bright pupils of Winterbourne Earls Primary School to a Q &A with the residents of Elizabeth Court Sheltered Apartments – who were extremely welcoming .

I then moved on to a useful discussion at the mental health charity Rethink's City Hall forum on local mental health provision. This is an issue with which I am deeply engaged and I know from family experience the trauma that can come with mental illnesses which impact increasing numbers of people.

Another issue in which I am proud to be involved with is autism and I was pleased to meet local boy Henry Clark again at Westminster and back the National Autistic Society's campaign to break down stereotypes about the condition. It is clear to me that, once you have met one child with autism – you have met one child with autism. Every individual with autism is different and there is no one size fits all solution to enabling each and every one of them to reach their full potential in the world, whatever that may be.

My wife Emma and I had a most enjoyable lunch at the Red Lion in Salisbury on Sunday... which brings me onto my next project... to see what I can do to boost Salisbury's tourism industry....starting with a visit to the Tourist Information Office in Fish Row on Friday.

Business barriers need to be removed

One of the things I am privileged to be able to do in my work as Salisbury's MP is to visit business people who wish to bring to my attention aspects of the law which cause them challenges.

In having the opportunity to meet representatives of local businesses I gain a broad understanding of the practical things that the business community want action on.

Last Friday I visited B&E Erection services in South Newton – Barney and Eric exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit of our local business community. Providing employment for over thirty people their family business has been operating from South Newton since 1994 and has grown into one of the one of the leading manufacturers and distributors of cladding and flashing products and accessories to the construction industry.

We had a good discussion about the various regulatory challenges they face and I have a number of issues to follow up on for them. Later in the day I some more business people from Whiteparish who presented some very legitimate concerns about the way one agency of Government was treating them. I have another mission!

It is quite clear that the budget later this month will need to do more to both tear down the barriers to enterprise in Salisbury and South Wiltshire but also remove regulations that add little to business and prevent them from spending their resources and creative talent seeking to expand their markets and improve the competitiveness of their offer to the consumer.

One aspect that I am very concerned about is the cost of fuel which is crippling business people as well as rural dwellers who rely on a car to get out and about. Despite the challenging economic climate we must do something to address this cost. The price of petrol and fuel is becoming prohibitive... I will look to have a word in the Chancellor's ear in the lobbies this week.

I had a varied week in Westminster after sitting as a JP on Monday in London. We had three Secretaries of State before the Defence Select Committee on Wednesday and most of the rest of the week was spent trying to sort out various constituents' issues.

I look forward to a varied day on Friday in Salisbury starting with a morning surgery in Brown Street and finishing with discussions on mental health and a meeting with the Highways Agency in South Newton. I hope we can do something to ease the enormous pressure on the A36 which blights the lives of many local residents.

Shining light on problems

This week in Westminster, as is so often the case, constituency matters have remained very much to the forefront of my mind.

I often reflect that the ability to shine a light on the problems of constituents is one of the most powerful tools at my disposal with which to help them.

This week I have been fortunate to secure three opportunities to help constituents by raising issues directly with minsters.

I asked my second PMQ this week, taking the opportunity to praise the work of the Trussell Trust and ask why the payment of benefits to which people are justly entitled are so often delayed, plunging households into financial crisis and placing the burden on food banks to step in and see them through until normality is restored.

I also asked a question on behalf of a local company Cavendish Films, who are engaged in producing training materials to help educate and mentor people back into work. Their track record of successful and cost-effective assistance is impressive and I intend to do all I can to help as many people as possible 'plug-in' to their expertise.

I am also asking a question this week about the forthcoming AV referendum – asking what steps will be taken to inform the voters about the choice that faces them in May.

One of the many merits of first-past-the-post is that everyone understands it but I am concerned that too little has been done to explain the labyrinthine workings and likely outcomes of AV – which is not true proportional representation but a watered down version described by Nick Clegg himself as a 'miserable little compromise'.

Last week saw the latest in my series of volunteering engagements. I spent a highly rewarding day with the brilliant staff and clients at Focus Point on Wilton Road (including having the pleasure of making the acquaintance of Salisbury powerlifting legend Lee Steggles – someone who, I already sense, has really earned her place in the hearts of Salisbury people).

I first visited Focus Point in the late summer last year and was so impressed I decided then and there to make the time to return and take the time to gain a deeper understanding of their work.

I am now a bigger admirer of their work than ever and look forward to doing my best to join in their 20th anniversary celebrations in June.

Q & A Mental Health Services

Taken from the Salisbury Journal website today. If you want the chance to question me on mental health issues, a topic I care strongly about,  contact Paula Reid, campaigns administrator, at Paula.Reid@rethink.org or call 0207 840 3147.

Chance to discuss mental health services

2:51pm Thursday 3rd March 2011, By Corey Ross »

PEOPLE will be able to discuss the future of Salisbury's mental health services with Salisbury's MP John Glen next Friday.

Mr Glen will be taking part in a question and answer session as part of the Salisbury Mental Health Summit at the City Hall on March 11.

The summit has been organised by mental health charity Rethink Mental Illness and will give carers and service users in the city the opportunity to discuss how access to treatment and support for people affected by mental illness can be improved.

It's part of the charity's national Fair Treatment Now campaign calling for better access to mental health treatment across the country.

Claire West, Rethink Mental Illness's senior activism officer, said: "We are particularly excited to be welcoming Mr Glen along to the Rethink Salisbury Mental Health Summit. With huge decisions now being taken about how the health service is organised and renewed pressure on council budgets, it's more important than ever that people directly affected have a voice in shaping local mental health services."

The event, which is from 1pm to 5pm, is open to everyone with experience of, or an interest in, mental health in Salisbury. To confirm a place contact Paula Reid, campaigns administrator, at Paula.Reid@rethink.org or call 0207 840 3147.

24th February 2011

NOT for the first time in recent weeks, the future of our forests has dominated the political agenda, this time as a result of the government's abandonment of proposals to transfer responsibility for the management of some woodland out of the hands of the Forestry Commission.

Of course some sections of the media are screaming "U-turn", but I hope the 300 or so constituents who took the trouble to write to me – by far my largest postbag on any single issue – feel pleased their advice has been heeded.

Democracy has done what it is meant to do – namely function as a two-way conversation – and that is something we should all feel satisfied about.

What went on was a consultation in its truest form. The people made their views known and, through myself and my colleagues, their efforts have been rewarded.

I always harboured doubts that the proposals would go forward (and said as much to a number of constituents). I also said the same to Caroline Spelman, whom I know well as a result of working for her husband, Mark, for a number of years.

At a time when we are spending £120m a day just to service the interest on our national debt, there had to be more compelling ways to save £200m over ten years.

I was pleased to have the opportunity to speak in the House last week and to put it to the Secretary of State that the full-throated protests have revealed an untapped reservoir of knowledge and passion for our woodlands – something we should seek to celebrate and harness, not sweep back under the carpet.

Also last week, I had my first real taste of trial by media, when I agreed to give an interview to a Channel 4 reporter as part of, what I thought was, a piece about the Trussell Trust and the important role its food bank plays in supporting those who find themselves in financial crisis – even in an area such as Salisbury, which many outsiders view as untouched by poverty.

I am a huge fan of the Trussell Trust. I have volunteered there and I seized, what I thought, was a golden opportunity to publicly sing their praises.

During the course of a 20-minute conversation with the reporter, I happened to mention that, in some cases, chaotic lifestyles can play a part in precipitating hardship, whether caused by family problems, depression, lack of financial education or wilful mismanagement.

Imagine my mortification when the broadcast went out.

Not only was that 30-second excerpt the only part of the interview to be used on air but it was juxtaposed with the compelling personal stories of three constituents, making it appear as though I was criticising their household budgeting skills – something I would never dream of doing.

Those people have my sincere apologies for any offence which may have been caused.

And, as for myself, I have learned a valuable lesson about dealing with the national media.

17th February 2011

I often seem to comment how precious my constituency time is to me and how I wish there were more hours in the day.

With all MPs usually required in London from Monday to Thursday to take part in votes, I have always tried to make the most of my Fridays and Saturdays – a desire which recently led me to attempt a new sport – 24-hour endurance politics!

From my first appointment on Friday morning at the home of a constituent, via the launch of Salisbury Trust for the Homeless's fundraising campaign to refurbish St Paul's Almshouses, talking with Godolphin School sixth formers and attending an evening function – it was typically packed Friday.

I had accepted an invitation to go on late night patrol with Salisbury's Street Pastors – an adventure which culminated in the early hours of the morning with me attempting to blend in among the Chapel Nightclub's patrons while wearing a high-vis jacket!

It was certainly not something I pictured when I held my first public meeting there prior to my election.

An early morning restorative swim at Five Rivers was enough to see me on my way to an early morning breakfast with Chalke Valley Churches and then on, via several other appointments to an exhibition opening at Roche Court in Winterslow.

Counting up afterwards, I realised I had attended 15 appointments in 40 sleepless hours. Suffice it to say, by Saturday evening, I was not a pretty sight!

I made another 'dawn raid' on Salisbury last Wednesday, dashing down from London to take part in a Channel 4 documentary showcasing the excellent work of the Trussell Trust foodbank, addressing pockets of real deprivation that exist right on our doorstep.

From Bemerton Heath, it was back to London to vote and then back on the train, along with my defence committee colleagues, to tour naval installations in Plymouth – including HMS Albion - and a submarine.

Back in the House, I was pleased to have the opportunity to speak in last week's education debate, addressing the issue of discipline in schools and also taking the opportunity to celebrate the excellent progress being made at Sarum Academy.

John Glen MP

10th February 2011

Each and every week seems to fly by and, after asking my first PMQ last week, I am already looking ahead to Tuesday's education debate, in which I hope to speak about the importance of greater discipline in schools.

I would like to see the introduction of carefully defined but practical powers for teachers to manage persistently disruptive pupils and reduce their impact on the quality of education received by their classmates.

Just as importantly, I think we need to address ways to reverse the inexorable decline in standards, which has seen the UK slide down the global academic league table at an alarming rate.

The week just gone has been dominated by a huge postbag about the consultation on the Public Bodies Bill aka the forest 'sell-off'.

At the time of writing, I have received upwards of 220 letters and emails on the subject – most of them identically-worded circulars. Nevertheless, the strength of feeling is very clear and in Wednesday's backbench debate, it was apparent that is replicated across the country.

A great deal of misinformation is circulating. First and foremost – the New Forest is not for sale - at any price. Secondly, rights of way are not at risk and planning restrictions will not be relaxed. Woodland will remain woodland.

The vast majority of areas affected are 'farmed forest' where timber is produced for the domestic market. What is being proposed is not a hands-off sale but a transition of some areas of responsibility - part of a wider localism agenda intended to introduce a greater element of hands-on local knowledge to the protection of many of our woodlands.

None of this is intended to dismiss the genuine anxiety people feel. Correspondents who had studied the bill still expressed substantial disquiet about how protections may be couched in order to ensure that they endure for the long-term. I share those reservations and I think that a great deal of detailed work needs to be done to address these issues before the proposals go any further.

My primary concern is the preservation of our freedom and the rights we all enjoy to access the glorious countryside all around us.

I think the important thing to remember is that this is not a fait accompli – it is a consultation and the reaction is all part of the process.

I hope and expect that all informed and reasoned contributions to the debate will be taken on board and help to shape the final outcome. That is certainly what I and many of my colleagues will be working hard to achieve.

On a local level, I received a helpful update on the future of the Market Square and the Maltings from Sir Christopher Benson and Salisbury Vision director Richard Walters. I am very hopeful that the modified plans will meet with general approval.

John Glen MP

3rd February 2011

Spending time in Afghanistan last week with my fellow members of the Defence Select Committee was both an enlightening and a humbling experience. In many ways, it feels as though my feet haven't touched the ground since Kabul.

As you read this, we will be nearing the end of another busy week in parliament – a week in which I had the opportunity to ask my first question at Prime Minister's Questions – furthering my involvement with promoting Frank Field's excellent report into how to improve the life chances of the poorest children.

Less high profile, perhaps, but every bit as important, were the two defence questions is asked on the security situation in Afghanistan and new ways to address the housing needs of our serving soldiers.

I quizzed the minister for Women and Equality about how best to support women in the workplace to enable the brightest and best to rise to board level.

I was also delighted to lend my support to fellow Wiltshire MP James Gray in a debate on the important subject of the future of RAF Lyneham.

Back in Salisbury, I spent a fascinating day volunteering with Alabare. They certainly put me to work, alongside the staff in Cafe Alabare, with workers at the drop-in centre and in their office.

That was followed by another packed advice surgery. Demand for my surgeries continues to be high and I always do my best to schedule in as many appointments as possible, so that no-one ever has to wait too long to see me.

If no spaces are available in the surgery you were hoping to attend, please do give my office a call. Wherever possible, I am more than happy to see constituents with urgent problems outside usual surgery times – or in their own homes.

As many of you may already know, I am a committed Christian and religion and politics collided last Friday night in a most interesting forum – Christians in Politics – held at Salisbury Methodist Church. Zoe Dixon from the Liberal Democrat Christian Forum and Fay Howard, a Labour councillor from Swindon were also part of a refreshing debate on how our shared faith informs our different approaches to our political lives.

Saturday was a special day for everyone in Salisbury who appreciates local sport and wants to see it go from strength to strength. After years of persistence and hard work, the dream of a new clubhouse and conference centre at Salisbury and South Wilts Sports Club is about to come to fruition.

I was privileged to be asked to cut the first sod on the site of what will be a superb new facility for not just cricketers, hockey players, footballers and rugby players based at Skew Bridge, but also for the entire sporting community of south Wiltshire.

John Glen MP

South Wilts Sports Club

Work starts on new sports pavilion

4:30pm Saturday 29th January 2011

By Jill Harding »

THE TEAM behind the new pavilion at South Wilts Sports Club watched Salisbury MP John Glen cut the turf to herald the start of the £1.3 million project on Saturday.

The event, attended by supporters, players and representatives from organisations which helped to fund the work, came after 10 years of fundraising and hard slog.

Patron of the appeal Lord Marland said: "This is a wonderful opportunity to seize the upswing in British cricket and other sports and provide something that will benefit our young players and the whole community."

Mr Glen praised those behind the plan that will see the existing crumbling clubhouse, built in 1956, replaced with a modern two-storey building complete with showers, changing rooms, a bar, social area and meeting rooms.

The hockey pitch will also be resurfaced and there are plans for a second pitch to be used for rugby and football.

Chairman of the hub committee which brought together all the sports that will use the club, Peter Curtis said: "We will have a wonderful facility that we not only need, but very much deserve.

"We all want sport to be played here for another 100 years."

27th January 2011

Last week I spent five days in Afghanistan visiting our troops in Helmand Province and participating in more than 20 meetings with senior military commanders and diplomats to help understand the state of progress in the country.

The Prime Minister has indicated that combat troops will leave the country by the end of 2014 but, until then, there is much work to be done.

It is heartening to meet many individual soldiers and hear that they now feel their equipment needs are being met.

I saw demonstrations of the immense bravery undertaken by those who seek to detect and make safe IEDs, which have caused so many horrific injuries.

I also had the privilege of meeting a number of Salisbury-based serving officers. I met Major Paul Fletcher who lives in central Salisbury with his wife and daughters.

Major Fletcher is working as part of the extensive Provincial Reconstruction Team in Helmand province.

They are seeking to teach the Afghans to look after their own security so that when combat troops leave in December 2014, they will be able to deal with any insurgents who generate threats.

After meeting President Karzai and the NATO and UN Special Representatives, we also met with NGOs who are working to build Afghan society. It is a very fragile place but on my long journey home I was left in no doubt about the bravery of my constituents (and many others) as they undertake vital and dangerous work on behalf of us all.

I salute them all.

John Glen MP

20th January 2011

When I am planning my diary and trying to attend as many constituency engagements as possible, it often feels as though there are not enough hours in the day and it would be wonderful to have the luxury of spending more time here, rather than being in Westminster from Monday to Thursday.

That is when I have to remind myself that, even when I am in London, the constituency work never stops. Not only do I continue to check my emails and respond to as many messages as possible, but parliament offers some of the most powerful tools I have at my disposal with which to help constituents.

Asking questions in the House shines a light on the issues that affect individuals, as well as often proving representative of wider political concerns.

In the past week in parliament, I was able to ask two questions of ministers. I quizzed the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Vince Cable on a particularly hot topic, which has affected a number of my constituents – banks' continuing reluctance to open up lines of credit to small businesses.

In a week in which the government's relationship with the banking sector has been under such close scrutiny, it was my pleasant duty to ask the minister to elaborate on which among his recently publicised 'arsenal of weapons' he intends to employ to motivate risk-averse banks to restore lending to sensible levels.

The removal of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance is another policy area around which the experiences of a number of my constituents have raised both questions and concerns, particularly where the automatic mobility provision in different care homes varies so dramatically. It was another important issue on which I was very happy to have the opportunity to ask a question.

I have, I'm delighted to report, also managed to secure an open debate on Frank Field's excellent report into the causes of poverty, which takes place today.

Unfortunately, I will not be there to appreciate the fruits of my labours due to my commitments with the Defence Select Committee – of which, more next week!

John Glen MP

13th January 2011

Last week's continuing parliamentary recess gave me more welcome time to spend in the constituency . I was pleased to meet members of the Wilton Hunt on December 27th and to meet with a group of farmers in Ebbesbourne Wake and senior citizens in Bowerchalke after the New Year. During the week, I took the opportunity to focus on some casework meetings on behalf of individual constituents, as well as getting out and about.

I am a big admirer of the excellent work done by SWAN Advocacy Network to ensure that the voices of the vulnerable are not lost or compromised in various decision-making processes and I was delighted to spend some time there last week.

There are so many examples of entrepreneurial spirit in Salisbury – not least the burgeoning success story that is Reality Aircraft at Old Sarum who I also visited to see their plans for expansion in 2011.

On Friday, I caught up on the latest developments at Wiltshire College over a superb lunch at the Salisbury campus's Wessex Restaurant, courtesy of the catering students, whose fine work I now plan to sample on a more regular basis! It was also a pleasure to visit Ruth Jones at The Unit in Endless Street, an impressive example of social enterprise in action. We now face the challenge of securing the funding that will allow this worthwhile project to grow and prosper.

Salisbury District Hospital's maternity unit enjoyed a proud moment on Friday, with the care and support it offers to breastfeeding mothers recognised by UNICEF as among the best in the country. The presentation of the award was the culmination of five years' hard work for Angela Siderfin and her team – and richly deserved.

I think it is important to maintain a frank dialogue and close working relationship with Wiltshire Councillors, with whom I had one of my regular meetings this week, covering everything from the future of the market place to funding challenges at County Hall.

After a dinner in Shrewton on Friday night , I spent Saturday morning in the splendid company of members of Salisbury Baptist Church, discussing faith and politics in equal measure!

Parliament returns this week and it has been straight back to business for me – asking a question of the Work and Pensions secretary on Monday.

John Glen MP

6th January 2011

Over the past seven months, I have found that being an MP is more than a job – it is a way of life, constantly generating new ideas and challenges and occupying my mind around the clock.

Even as I enjoy a few days off with my family, my thoughts have started to turn to the opportunities to make a positive difference that 2011 may bring.

I have always said that to be acknowledged by people of all political persuasions as a hard-working and effective constituency MP is my primary aim – and that remains the case.

But MPs must, by necessity, live something of a double life, being detained in Westminster from Monday to Thursday by political duties – sitting on committees, speaking in debates and meeting lobbyists and decision-makers of all stripes.

The House of Commons is another world but, when I am there, I am no less committed to serving the people of Salisbury.

My speeches, the questions I ask, the issues I engage with, are all the same ones that constituents bring to my attention at functions, at my regular surgeries – or just when they bump into me around the market on a Saturday morning!

I am in this business to help people and sometimes, as a politician, the best and most effective contribution I can make is to shine a light on local problems that I believe are indicative of where change needs to take place on a national scale.

With that in mind, early in the New Year, my parliamentary priorities will include looking into how we, as a nation, tackle poverty. As soon as parliament returns, I will also be applying for a debate with support from MPs from all the main parties on the findings of Frank Field's excellent report on the causes of poverty.

My work on the Defence Select Committee remains paramount – looking at the big picture but always informed and guided by the personal insights afforded to me by my constituents, including my regular chats with Stuart and his Dad at the barber's in Winchester Street!

There is much to be done – and I look forward to giving it my best shot!

John Glen MP

23rd December 2010

The past 12 months have undoubtedly been among the most eventful of my life. This time last year, I had not yet won selection as a Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Salisbury... and now I am John Glen MP – and loving every minute of it.

I received lots of great advice when I was elected – most of it with one common theme – throw yourself into it!

I have tried to heed that advice ever since, accepting literally hundreds of invitations in every corner of the constituency. It has been a whirlwind – busy, exciting and, ultimately, hugely fulfilling.

I have met so many warm-hearted and public-spirited people and owe a huge debt of gratitude to everyone who has made me so welcome at schools, businesses, charities and churches across the district.

My volunteer days got off to a good start, with Naomi House Children's Hospice, Trussell Trust, The Jo Benson Day Centre and Truffles Coffee Shop in Winterslow among my temporary 'employers'.

My advice surgeries have toured the constituency and my personal challenge to myself to visit every school in the constituency is well under way.

It truly is a great joy and privilege to represent Salisbury.

Nevertheless, as this year draws to a close, I am looking forward to spending time with my family who have been so wonderful supporting me and putting up with the demands of my work and my frequent absences.

So many challenges lie ahead in 2011 – not least to deepen and expand my knowledge and love of Salisbury, as well as to advance the causes of my constituents in Parliament.

More of that next week...

John Glen MP

16th December 2010

While the media spotlight was on the unrest surrounding the vote on tuition fees, the focus of my week in parliament was playing my part in a defence debate.

Pursuant to my membership of the defence committee, I take a keen interest in all military matters. Having raised the issue of extensive duplication of training facilities across the three services in previous debates, I took part in a debate concerning defence spending in Wales.

The suspension of the programme to create a combined training facility at St Athan in Wales due to a variety of logistical and organisational failings has caused grave disappointment in the principality, fearful as it is of the potential loss of what was to have been a major capital investment.

I remain a keen believer in rationalising generic training facilities teaching skills that are common to the three services such as fitness, leadership, engineering and even music.

If the right location for that facility turns out to be St Athan, then I'm all for it but, if the limitations of the site prove so great as to limit the effectiveness of the training on offer, then surely it is only right to take a thorough look at the alternatives before forging ahead with such an important sea-change in the way we approach the generic elements of military training.

Back in the constituency, I started last Friday at the crack of dawn with a visit to the stalwart posties at the Salisbury delivery office, as they battle the daily deluge of Christmas post.

From there, I faced a good-natured grilling from the well-informed young men and women of the politics society of Bishop Wordsworth's and South Wilts schools.

It was an unexpected pleasure to meet my new namesake – a puppy named Glen – on a pre-Christmas visit to the Dogs Trust in Newton Tony. The centre is preparing to suspend rehoming operations in accordance with its annual campaign – a dog is for life, not just for Christmas – a motto that has done so much to encourage prospective dog owners to consider the commitment involved in welcoming a four-legged member of the family into the home.

The author of that phrase and CEO of the charity, Clarissa Baldwin was there to meet me and was rightly very proud of the compassion and professionalism shown by the staff there every day of the year.

After conducting the Christmas draw at Salisbury's Shopmobility, my day ended on a high at Salisbury Playhouse's magnificent pantomime Aladdin (oh yes it did!)

But the treats were still not over for the week. It was my most pleasant duty on Sunday to attend an association function before joining BBC Wiltshire's joyous carol service at the Cathedral and dropping in for drinks at St Paul's club.

For the last month or so, demand to attend my regular surgeries has been exceptionally high. It is my aim to do all I can to ensure that I am available to see as many people as possible and, to that end, I scheduled another extra surgery first thing on Monday.

Tomorrow, my last surgery before Christmas rolls into Winterslow, which is also the venue for my latest stint of volunteering – a morning spent as a helper at Truffles Coffee Shop. I hope to see you there!

John Glen MP

9th December 2010

Even though MPs are obliged to be in Westminster from Monday to Thursday, the constituency work never stops.

I try to ensure that all constituents who write to me are answered promptly and personally, even though keeping on top of my email inbox sometimes feels like a task akin to painting the Forth Road Bridge!

At the end of a long week of committees, debates, receptions and votes in the House, I am normally keen to race back to Salisbury and reconnect with the constituency on a personal level.

However, last Friday, dozens of constituents asked me to stay in London to vote 'aye' on Rebecca Harris's Daylight Savings Bill.

I'm delighted that it will now progress to the next stage.

Nevertheless I did dash back for an evening event on Friday. Then, on Saturday, I had an early start, meeting a constituent for breakfast at the Red Lion, prior to fitting in my usual spot of shopping in the market.

Christmas events have started in earnest and I was one of numerous Santas lining up at Five Rivers for the start of the Santa Run in aid of Naomi House Children's Hospice. It was a magnificent sight to see so many people prepared to brave the cold (and sacrifice their dignity!) in such a wonderful cause.

I have been a huge fan of Naomi House since carrying out one of my regular volunteer days there and I had planned to take part in the run but a most pleasant duty called and I had to race back into the city centre to meet my old friend the President of the Maldives at the honorary consulate, which has been established in Friary Lane.

However, the highlight of this week is, I'm glad to say, still to come. Tomorrow night, I am looking forward to bringing the whole family to see Aladdin, this year's Salisbury Playhouse pantomime.

I have heard nothing but good things about the Playhouse's reputation for staging superb family pantos and I think Emma and I are almost as excited as Will and Emily about their end-of-term treat!

Aladdin is sure to put me in the Christmas spirit, which is just as well - if I thought my usual volume of correspondence was substantial, the first batch of the 350-ish Christmas cards I will be sending this year went in the post this week – so I am dispensing seasonal goodwill along with advice and assistance!

John Glen MP

2nd December 2010

I had an opportunity to ask another question in the House at the beginning of the week. Departmental questions come around every fortnight, with different ministerial teams fielding questions from backbenchers on a variety of topical subjects.

On Monday, it was the turn of Jeremy Hunt and the team from Culture, Media and Sport to face the barrage!

I view asking questions as an excellent opportunity for me to serve my constituents by shining a light on local issues and securing direct feedback from ministers.

It is an important part of my job to be a bridge between the government and the Salisbury businesses, organisations and individuals who are affected by national decisions.

The coming switchover to digital has significant ramifications for small independent radio stations – not least our own Spire FM. On behalf of them and others like them, I asked what confidence they could have that their long-term future would be secure beyond the current seven-year 'path to digital' strategy.

All-party parliamentary groups (APPGs) are another significant call on my time in Westminster. All are themed around a particular topic or interest and, as the name suggests, are non-partisan attempts to discuss and raise the profile of a variety of issues.

More than 500 APPGs exist, so I try to limit my memberships to those groups whose activities are closely related to constituency matters.

This week, I attended the Hospice APPG. Following on from my visit to Salisbury Hospice, I am keen to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing the palliative care sector.

I took part in a project to record video messages for our serving troops in Afghanistan, something that is important to me – both as a result of the significant military presence in and around Salisbury and as a consequence of my membership of the Defence Select Committee.

I have been receiving a huge volume of letters and emails about tomorrow's Daylight Savings Bill – with the current tally running at roughly 20 to one in favour of an extra hour of daylight on these winter evenings.

I support the bill and, for that reason, I will be making the unusual move of staying in London on a Friday so that take part in the debate and cast my vote. I will then be racing back to Salisbury just in time for my usual Friday surgery , this week it will be at Bemerton Heath's Neighbourhood Centre, closely followed by not one but two Conservative Party events in the evening.

What a busy week!

John Glen MP

25th November 2010

This week has been dominated by my continuing work on the Defence Select Committee investigation into Afghanistan to determine whether the right decisions were made at the right times.

Debates in the chamber are just a tiny part of what goes on at Westminster. For example, I recently spent five hours in committee interviewing the new Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir David Richards who, rather amusingly and quite unexpectedly, announced to the assembled company that I was his MP. It felt quite strange to be trying to ask tough and penetrating questions about the future of our armed forces to one of my constituents!

It turns out that he does, in fact, live in the Nadder Valley, an area that I have always thought should belong to the Salisbury constituency in its entirety and which I very much hope will be returned to the fold in the next round of boundary changes.

On a more local issue I have been attempting to facilitate a solution on the way forward for Arundells, the home of Sir Edward Heath by meeting with the Charity Commission. However, as an honest broker, I am determined to see that all options are explored and given fair consideration. Once the house is sold, there will be no going back and I know that the many people who love Arundells will not easily forgive or forget if it later transpires that more could have been done to save it for the nation.

I am also acutely conscious of the ongoing decision-making process around the remodelling of the Market Square and have met with people representing all shades of opinion. Salisbury's market is critically important to the city's vitality, atmosphere and culture and the market traders must to be regarded as the most important stakeholder. While wasteful expenditure cannot be justified , particularly in the current climate, I don't think we can unilaterally oppose any modest upgrading.

In amongst all this, it remains my constant priority to ensure that my constituents' queries on all subjects are answered as promptly and fully as possible by 'chasing up' the relevant ministers and organisations for responses.

By far the most effective way to do this is in person. Often more can be achieved with a chance five minute conversation in the lobbies with a Minister rather than a whole raft of letters!

I frequently find myself running around Westminster with notes and briefings in every pocket, just in case an impromptu opportunity to speak up for one of my constituents should present itself!

John Glen MP

18th November 2010

After a full day in the constituency, I rounded off last Friday night at a dinner with Amesbury residents. It remains important to me to spend time in every area of the constituency, deepening my knowledge and understanding of the issues that face individuals across the district.

I had an early start, attending a men's breakfast at St Francis Church before holding the first of four surgeries I have scheduled this side of Christmas.

In recent weeks, my postbag has been full of letters from individuals who are, for a whole variety of reasons, struggling to come to terms with the difficult decisions that have been made on a national level.

Issues such as child benefit, changes to disability living allowance and the reallocation of this country's limited resources have been at the forefront of my mind.

It is one of an MP's most difficult tasks to strike the right balance between the duty to put the needs of constituents first and the wider obligation to serve our national interests, recognising that in these straitened times, cuts have to be applied somewhere.

It is my experience that the route to fairness often lies in the detail – the nuances of each individual's circumstances that reveal where the real loopholes lie. The more I know, the more I can do to fight for fairness for my constituents – writing letters, lobbying minsters and seeking answers to the questions that affect people's lives.

On Sunday, I was pleased and proud to be part of the Remembrance Day observances in Salisbury, along with my wife Emma, stepchildren Will and Emily and my mother-in-law.

Back in Westminster, I am planning a Westminster Hall debate on autism – one of the issues about which I care most passionately. I am keen to explore new approaches to autism spectrum disorders that will not only transform the lives of families devastated by their effects but also benefit society as a whole.

In addition, the unexpected postponement of this week's long-planned trip to Afghanistan to visit serving troops with my defence select committee colleagues has handed me a rare and welcome chance to spend some quality time in the constituency office with my excellent staff.

Six months on from the election, we are going to seize the opportunity to take stock and discuss how we can improve our processes to serve the people of Salisbury ever more effectively.

John Glen MP

11th November 2010

It is now six months since I was elected (although sometimes it seems far longer!) and everything is in full swing.

Every day, whether I am in Parliament or in the constituency, is packed with a hectic but fascinating round of meetings, discussions and events.

During the past week, I have attended a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Mental Health, of which I am a member. This is one of the issues about which I care most passionately.

I think it is vital that we recognise the huge numbers of people in our community who fall into depression and the debilitating effect that it has on both their family and working lives.

I, along with the rest of the group, intend to devote time to looking at how our services can deliver the best possible outcomes for people enduring the most difficult times in their lives.

As well as meeting people at my fortnightly surgeries, it is also part of my weekly routine to meet constituents and interested parties who come to London to lobby me.

This week, I had an interesting meeting with two representatives of the Green Alliance. It is always worthwhile to hear constructive ideas to address pressing environmental concerns.

I am hoping to be called to speak in today's debate about the growth of the economy. On a local level, it has become very clear to me that small businesses are at the heart of Salisbury's economy and that what they need, above all, in order to thrive is less interference by central government.

Only when we ease the burden of taxation and regulation will we encourage entrepreneurialism – and that is what will ultimately dispel the economic gloom.

I am looking forward to a day back at school tomorrow – always one of my favourite constituency duties! I have been hugely impressed by the schools I have visited so far and I can't wait to make the acquaintance of the children and staff of Manor Fields and Woodford Valley Primary Schools.

Later the same day, I am visiting the offices of Help for Heroes – an incredible charity and a wonderful local success story – and I am also meeting with representatives of Salisbury Market Traders to discuss their views of the plans for the city centre.

On Sunday, my family and I will, of course, be joining members of the public, the services and civic dignitaries in paying our respects to the fallen at Salisbury's Remembrance Day parade and service. I hope to see you there.

John Glen MP

4th November 2010

My commitment to spend time volunteering continued with a full day at Naomi House Children's Hospice, which does such wonderful work with children and families from across the region.

It was a privilege to work alongside the amazing team, which works so hard to bring fun and laughter into the lives of desperately sick children.

It was a busy and varied day – I tried my hand at making stink bombs in the morning then spent the afternoon mucking in with the Hallowe'en preparations.

On Friday night, I had dinner with a group of professionals in the Chalke Valley. In amongst the wide-ranging conversation it was remarkable and refreshing to see how buoyant the mood was on the economy.

On Saturday, my mobile surgery was once again on the road! I visited constituents in Coombe Bissett and Landford and cut the ribbon at the newly refurbished Wilton Community Centre.

This is now a magnificent resource, complete with solar panels, which has been lovingly restored by the community it will now serve. Everyone involved has worked so hard and hundreds of people will reap the rewards. There is no better example of the Big Society in action, as far as I am concerned.

Back in Westminster, it has been another busy week with important issues to grapple with. On Monday, I spoke up for a constituent, raising a difficult question on his behalf in Home Office questions.

Today, I will be speaking in the Strategic Defence and Security Review debate, seeking to make a substantive and constructive contribution as the banner headlines recede into the background and the outcomes are considered in detail.

At the weekend, I am looking forward to celebrating with the 70+ parishioners of Sarum St Francis Church, as they celebrate their church's 80th anniversary.

This was the church in which my grandmother was married in 1941 and I will be attending with Nanna, who turns 90 this week.

John Glen MP

28th October 2010

Thanks to the publication of both the Strategic Defence and Security Review and the Comprehensive Spending Review, this has been my busiest week yet in Parliament. At the time of writing, it is impossible to say precisely how the measures will affect all individuals and organisations in this constituency but this will become clear over coming weeks.

However, in amongst the alarmist headlines, it is worth remembering that many of the worst predictions have not transpired. For example, as we head towards winter, pensioners' benefits, including the winter fuel payment, free bus passes and free television licences have been protected, as the Conservative Party promised in the General Election campaign earlier this year.

I am not trying to pretend that everything in the garden is rosy. The Spending Review is no popularity contest - difficult decisions have undoubtedly had to be made and I know from my postbag that many of you are feeling anxious about the implications for yourselves and your families.

I will be doing my level best to get you answers and endeavouring to represent your views in Parliament over the weeks and months ahead.

As a member of the defence select committee, headline losses to the armed forces have given me cause for concern. The day after the publication of the SDSR, I had a one-to-one with the Secretary of State Liam Fox to press the case for our hardworking service personnel. I wanted to know that all decisions, particularly on changes to allowances, will take account of their tough lifestyles, involving frequent moves and family upheavals.

He assured me that he would be mindful of these and many other matters as the details of the proposals are thrashed out in the coming months.

Alongside the cuts, the SDSR does present some opportunities – particularly for Boscombe Down. Future research and security provision will need innovative thinkers. This area is a hotbed of technical and strategic expertise – knowledge that is more vital than ever.

Also in the past week I asked a question in the House, quizzing Greg Clark, Minister of State for Decentralisation, about the role of parish plans in the planning process. This followed a most enjoyable weekend visit to Winterslow for the launch of its Parish Plan – an excellent piece of work that deserves its place in helping to shape the future of the village.

The minister assured me that this government sees parish plans as instrumental in defining sustainable planning policy – good news for all those who have worked so hard to produce a document that thoroughly and accurately reflects the views of local people

On Sunday last, I was honoured to worship with the members of Harnham Free Church, where I spoke about my faith and my country. Following that, my wife Emma and I were delighted to be guests at Salisbury's Local Hero Awards, a great event, highlighting the magnificent contributions made by people of all ages and from all walks of life.

John Glen MP

21st October 2010

Parliament is back in full swing - and my days seem busier than ever.

As a member of the Defence Select Committee, the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) has been at the forefront of my work at Westminster since the election. It has been a tortuous process and, by the time you read this, the outcome will be known.

I have twice spoken in debates in the House of Commons in September, calling for an approach that effectively combines our current - largely land-based - commitments with an appreciation for the need for flexibility, if we are to remain ready to meet the challenges we may face in the future.

As I write, I am still keeping my fingers firmly crossed that a balanced, reasonable and sustainable programme of efficiencies will be delivered in a way that also meets the long-term security needs of our nation.
On another subject altogether, the past week gave me a welcome opportunity to bring the problems of a constituent directly to the attention of the relevant Minister of State.

My recent visit to Odstock Medical Limited - the very first commercial entity to be set up under the umbrella of the NHS - was memorable for a number of reasons - not least the electric shocks I experienced as a result of being wired up to their Functional Electronic Stimulation device!

This remarkable invention enables MS sufferers and stroke victims to regain near normal movement in their lower limbs. It has the potential to help people across the world - and, excitingly, it was developed right here at Salisbury District Hospital.

The company is a significant success story, growing at 20 per cent a year, but its further development is being stymied by its inability to qualify for a range of grants and government-sponsored programmes made available to other businesses of similar size and scope. Odstock Medical's turnover and staffing levels would qualify it for the support it needs to go forward, if it were not for the fact that its major shareholder is the hospital.In response to my question in the House, the Minister of State for small businesses Mark Prisk MP, described the current situation as an "unusual glitch" and expressed a willingness to meet with Odstock Medical and myself to address the issue.

I am thrilled to have been able to shine a light on a problem that, if resolved, could make a real difference, not just to a local company, but also to many other initiatives by entrepreneurial medics who seek to develop new solutions for patients. I think we should all be proud that our hospital is capable of fostering and supporting the kind of expertise that could make 'Odstock' a byword for innovation and excellence across the globe.

To, in effect, 'punish' Odstock Medical for its association with the NHS, preventing it from growing its business overseas and bringing vital revenue back to its parent hospital, seems to be an anomaly which is easily correctable.

On the subject of small businesses, it was my pleasure to join Ambassadors networking group for a most convivial breakfast last Friday.

I share the concerns of many small businesses about a number of issues that are coming up time and time again - translating the government's commitment to apprenticeships into adequate 'on the ground' provision, improving the availability of bank loans to small businesses and streamlining the cumbersome system of CRB checks.

I am always happy to hear from business people about how they are affected by politics - whether directly or indirectly - and, wherever possible, I will always try and intervene to help.

I also enjoyed a tour of Naim Audio - a world-class manufacturing base employing 125 people in Salisbury. The variety and complexity of Salisbury's business landscape continues to surprise and impress me. I have work to do to help exclude them from regulations driven by Europe!

Shame on those who accuse us of looking no further than the tourism and retail sectors - nothing could be further from the truth!

John Glen MP

14th October 2010

Parliament returned on Monday and MPs, including myself, resumed the usual busy round of briefings, committees and debates.

Although my political interests are wide-ranging and I take my duties as a member of the Defence Select Committee very seriously, I have pledged that the people of Salisbury who put me here will always be my top priority. Helping those who need my help and making a positive difference in the constituency is what this job is all about for me.

One of the biggest challenges facing this constituency at the moment is the proposal to relocate the Health Protection Agency and all the attendant upheaval and uncertainty it is causing. I am convinced that this move is neither needed nor wanted and I intend to do everything within my power to ensure that it does not go ahead. It was with that in mind that I made a special journey down from Westminster on Tuesday morning to join the Health Minister Anne Milton on her visit to Porton Down.

As well as relocating the agency, the other proposals involve taking it under the umbrella of the Department of Health and enacting major structural changes, affecting the way it is run. I must say it seems strange to me to be contemplating investing huge sums in moving such a sensitive and important facility at a time like this. I made that point most forcibly to the minister and am anxious to do all I can to ensure that she makes the right decision.

Another local issue that is closely aligned to national discussions at the moment is the roll-out of super-fast fibre optic broadband. The rural extremities of the Salisbury constituency, by and large, are not well served by the latest in communications technology and a number of people have made it known to me that their attempts to gain access to better broadband speeds have met with frustrating intransigence on the part of providers.

This is an issue that I intend to pursue in Westminster and, to that end, I have already arranged meetings with BT top brass to argue the case for all rural areas' admission into the 21st Century, sooner rather than later!
However, in the meantime, a competition has been brought to my attention that may provide a quick-fix for business owners and constituents who are affected by our patchy broadband provision.BT has just launched a national survey to gauge demand for fibre-optic services, with the additional competitive element that the five areas where demand is highest (based on the percentage of homes responding), will be guaranteed to be enabled in the next year.Register your views at www.bt.com/racetoinfinity but, rest assured, even if we don't win, I will keep fighting our corner.

Speaking of which, I was delighted to hear that Wilton & District Business Chamber, with support from Wilton Town Council, is launching a Shop Locally campaign, to encourage people to keep Wilton unique by supporting its many individual shops and businesses. I know that, thanks to the Salisbury Journal, this is a topic that has been in the forefront of many people's minds for some time.

I agree that absolutely the best way to make it take root and change shopping locally from an aspiration to a way of life is to, as it were, take the campaign to the streets and let local communities own it, as Wilton is doing.

The Shop Locally campaign will be launched in Wilton Market Square on October 21st at 10am. I will watch its progress with interest.

John Glen MP

7th October 2010

I have spent another hectic but fulfilling week out and about in the constituency, gaining more first-hand experience of the difference that the voluntary sector makes in our community. Without the hard work of concerned and committed individuals, the suffering in our midst would be magnified many times over.

To demonstrate my admiration for volunteerism is all its forms, I am continuing to carry out my own once a month 'volunteer programme' - doing a day's work for any charity that will have me! My latest was no chore at all - a convivial morning spent with the workers at the Jo Benson day centre, chatting to service users and helping my team to win the coveted Quiz Cup!

A highlight of my week was my visit to Salisbury Hospice - a dynamic example of what can be achieved when compassionate volunteers and top-notch healthcare professionals share the same dream. Salisbury Hospice is special for many reasons - its warm atmosphere, its caring staff and its energetic fundraisers - to name but a few. As a politician, I was also thrilled to see that it represents a near perfect model of a PCT and a charity working as one to fund and deliver first rate palliative care.

It has a lot to teach others - both inside and outside the NHS. I went straight from the hospice to meet Matthew Kershaw, the chief executive of Salisbury District Hospital, who I believe is doing a sterling job in difficult times. In any large organisation, there is always scope to improve, but Salisbury can count itself very fortunate indeed to have a hospital as forward-thinking and well-regarded as this one. On a visit to the Women's Refuge, I was struck by how much is owed to a relatively small group of people - the serial volunteers.

As I go about my constituency duties, I am starting to hear the same names and see the same faces over and over. These are the vibrant and vital people who sit on committees, serve as trustees, join the governors - do what they can to make our city and our district work. Speaking of which, all credit to Jon Hampton and his fellow governors at St Martin's Primary School, which was my latest port of call in my bid to visit all of the schools in my constituency. The school is not without its challenges but now enjoys a good reputation and a positive learning environment. My thanks for the gift of the 'Martin' teddy bear, who will be making his way up to Westminster with me as soon as possible, to leave his paw prints in the corridors of power!

I also officially opened Peartree Serviced Apartments in Mill Lane, a shining example of a business using imagination and innovation to build a success story in testing times. It was with a certain degree of mixed feelings that I made my way to Party Conference this week, steeling myself to face the feeding frenzy of media and lobbyists!

By the time you are reading this, I will have slipped away from the conference hurly-burly to get back into the real world - namely a defence roundtable, related to my membership of the Defence Select Committee. Our work has been in the news again in the past week following the leaking of Liam Fox's letter to the Telegraph. Crunch time for the Strategic Defence and Security Review is rapidly approaching. I think the Secretary of State is a thoughtful and conscientious man and I share his concern that the review produces a balanced outcome that protects the long-term interests of the country.

One thing is for certain - we live in interesting times!

John Glen MP

30th September 2010

It has been an exceptionally busy week. I have seen so many constituents and visited organisations across the length and breadth of the constituency, keeping up to a dozen appointments a day - from SWAN Advocacy Network's 10th anniversary celebration to Bishop Wordsworth's School prize giving.

The chances are, if you have spotted me, it has been in something of a blur as I hotfooted it off to my next engagement!
It would be nice to have the luxury of spending unlimited time with people but I think that it is an important part of my duty to understand and experience Salisbury in all its diversity. To that end, I will always make the effort to see as many people as I can and discuss the issues that preoccupy them - be they private woes or wider political concerns.

As most of you will know, my regular surgeries are in full swing and I headed up to Shrewton this week to tackle a fascinating and wide-ranging assortment of problems. It is my intention to hold surgeries in all corners of the constituency. Looking ahead to October, I'll be in Bishopdown Farm and Alderbury - please call my office if you would like to come and see me.

It was humbling experience to spend time this week with the carers who are linked by Carers Support South Wilts. This excellent charity provides advice, respite and friendship for 900 people in this area alone. But they are just the tip of the iceberg - perhaps ten per cent of the silent army of carers who are selflessly giving of their time and energy to look after parents, spouses and children.

It is always emotionally exhausting watching a loved one suffer but these are the people who, instead of sitting back and letting the system do what it can, have the courage and compassion to roll up their sleeves and make a difference.
They are everyday heroes in our midst, who need and deserve all the help and encouragement they can get.
I must spare a mention for the fantastic work done by the Shaw Trust to give people with learning disabilities the chance to challenge their limitations and develop their skills in a supportive environment and contribute to a thriving business.
I am also an admirer of the warm and welcoming home-from-home provided by the Jo Benson Day Centre, where I carried out my latest day of volunteer work.

Anyone who watches the television cannot have failed to realise that this is party conference season and next week, for me, will be dominated by the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham. The big platform speeches that you see on the news and the hobnobbing in bars that journalists are so fond of talking about are just a fraction of what goes on at conference.

Among other things, I am preparing for what I'm sure will be a frank and invigorating exchange of views in a CND-sponsored debate on the hot topic of the future of Trident and I am looking forward to 18-hour days meeting with friends and lobbyists from charities, businesses and faith groups. Then it's back to Westminster - and the work really begins!

John Glen MP

23rd September 2010

As many of you will know, education is one of my passions and it is always a pleasure to visit schools and witness the superb work being done to help all our children achieve their potential.Salisbury is fortunate to have its grammar schools and the excellence of Bishop Wordsworth's and South Wilts is well known, both in the area and further afield.
But we must neither forget nor underestimate the capacity of our other secondary schools to enrich the lives of their pupils, both intellectually and socially.

It has been my privilege in the past week to officially open the new science block at Wyvern College - an excellent facility, well deserved, that I have no doubt will help to inspire the next generation of young scientists. I toured Wyvern and St Edmund's and was hugely impressed by the spirit and ethos of both schools. Although operating as distinct entities and different in many ways, the schools that occupy the same Laverstock campus share a capacity and willingness to work together that I found most heartening to see. A shared 6th form in Laverstock would be a tremendous addition to Salisbury's educational landscape and is something that we must seek to make a reality.

Back in Westminster, defence issues have continued to be at the forefront of my mind. I spoke in last week's defence debate in the house and, ever mindful of the importance of the military to Salisbury's economy, relished the opportunity to add my voice to the important discussion of the way forward for our armed forces. I am all for greater efficiency but I would like to see the defence review take a long-term view, considering not only our current commitments but also the unknown threats that we may face in the future. A balanced military is vital for our national security because any services that are wholly suspended or dismantled will not easily be reinstated.

Parliament is now, briefly, back in recess and I am taking the opportunity to spend more of my time in Salisbury.
One of the highlights of the past week was Salisbury's excellent business Expo, which continues to go from strength to strength. I am out and about meeting constituents and visiting different organisations every day so, if you spot me, feel free to come and say hello. It will be a pleasure to see you.

John Glen MP

9th September 2010

I have been making the most of the Parliamentary recess, gaining fascinating insights into a range of issues, courtesy of the many interesting people who contact my constituency office in a typical day.
If you have been in touch, I do hope we have been able to meet, either at my office or on one of my many trips out and about.

Parliament is now back in session and so my commute up and down the M3 has begun again.
Parliamentary business may detain me in Westminster for part of the week but my regular surgeries and my constituency casework will continue unabated, so do contact my constituency office if you want to come and see me or have any questions you want to raise.

Of course, MPs are not the only ones heading 'back to school' this week. As thousands of local children don their brand new, generously-sized uniforms ready to face the challenges and excitement of starting a new school or moving to a new class, this is also a fresh start for many teachers - not least those at the newly-minted Sarum Academy, formerly Salisbury High School. The change to Academy status will bring new teaching practices and a renewed energy and drive to succeed. But it must be backed up with investment in the school's infrastructure, to bring real and lasting benefits.
I will be doing all I can to urge the government to keep funding in place to enable the overdue redevelopment of Sarum Academy to go ahead as planned.

Education is a huge interest of mine. It is always a delight to visit schools and it keeps me on my toes to be quizzed by Salisbury's sharpest interrogators - its children. Over the coming months, I intend to continue my efforts to visit as many of our schools as possible.

My recent engagements have provided me with several timely reminders that, as we all go about our busy lives, wrapped up in our own concerns, we are never far from others experiencing personal crisis and dire need.

This is, in relative terms, a prosperous area, where the majority of the population are fortunate to enjoy a high standard of living. I believe that fact presents an ongoing challenge to all of us to remain mindful of the needs of the vulnerable and disadvantaged among us.

It is in the nature of this job that many of those people whose lives have temporarily stalled through unfortunate financial, medical or family circumstances find their way to my door, asking me to act as an advocate for them.
I am in politics for one reason - to use the influence of my office to make a positive difference to people's lives.

However, it lies within the power of each and every one of us to bring hope to the needy and comfort to the vulnerable.
Nowhere is that fact more apparent than at the Trussell Trust, where it was my pleasure to spend an exhausting but inspiring day volunteering recently. I have made a commitment to spend at least one day a month carrying out volunteer work in the constituency. If you know of a charity in need of an extra pair of hands, let me know. No job too small, as they say!

John Glen MP

2nd September 2010

I consider myself privileged to represent such a beautiful constituency, blessed with a vibrant community spirit and served by so many compassionate and forward-thinking institutions.

Parliament remains in recess and I have, therefore, spent another packed week travelling the length and breadth of the district, gaining fascinating insights into a range of issues, courtesy of the many interesting people who contact my constituency office in a typical day.

This is, in relative terms, a prosperous area, where the majority of the population are fortunate to enjoy a high standard of living. I believe that fact presents an ongoing challenge to all of us to remain mindful of the needs of the vulnerable and disadvantaged among us.

This week has provided me with several timely reminders that, as we all go about our busy lives, wrapped up in our own concerns, we are never far from others experiencing personal crisis and dire need.

It is in the nature of this job that many of those people whose lives have temporarily stalled through unfortunate financial, medical or family circumstances find their way to my door, asking me to act as an advocate for them.
I am in politics for one reason - to use the influence of my office to make a positive difference to people's lives.
However, it lies within the power of each and every one of us to bring hope to the needy and comfort to the vulnerable.
Nowhere is that fact more apparent than at the Trussell Trust, where it was my pleasure to spend a day volunteering recently.

I have made a commitment to spend at least one day a month carrying out volunteer work in the constituency. If you know of a charity in need of an extra pair of hands, feel free to get in touch with my office. No job too small, as they say!
Also in the past week, I have spent time at 5 Wishes Children's Centre in Amesbury and at Focus Point, the resource centre for people with learning disabilities, based in Stratford Road.

Both are perfect examples of everyday compassion in action. By bringing joy, energy and boundless enthusiasm to the jobs they do, the staff are effectively elevating their work and enriching the lives of everyone they meet - myself included.
My thanks go to them - and so many others - for another inspiring and enjoyable week in politics!

John Glen MP

26th August 2010

Parliament may still be in recess but my family holiday is well and truly over and I have been relishing the chance to catch up with constituency work.

It is a joy to be back in Salisbury, taking the opportunity to visit as many local organisations as possible, and witness their superb work first-hand before the 'new term' begins and Parliamentary business imposes additional demands on my time.

I was particularly pleased to further my knowledge of the excellent work being done here to support Alzheimers sufferers and their families. It was a privilege to attend the memory cafe in Harnham and chat to the people there about the life of an MP.

During a most impressive and informative tour of Salisbury's Jobcentre Plus, I was heartened to learn that, even in these turbulent economic times, it has just ten people on its books who have been unemployed for more than two years.

Of course, all unemployment is a tragedy for the people and families involved, but in this area, at least there is cause for optimism that they will not remain out of work for long.

I spent a most pleasant evening at the Milford Hall Hotel with Salisbury's hard-working Rotarians.

I enjoyed my visit to Salisbury Rugby Club and am looking forward to cheering them on at their first game of the new season.

Finally, it was my most pleasant duty to raise a glass of the good stuff with CAMRA - the Campaign for Real Ale.

John Glen MP

22nd July 2010

Last week brought us the shocking news that Major James Joshua Bowman, a local man, was one of the three soldiers from 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles killed by a rogue Afghan soldier in Helmand province in Afghanistan. This is the first fatality of a constituent since I have been an MP and I want to pay a public tribute to Joshua, a brave and courageous soldier who, along with the many others before him, gave his life in service to his country.
This tragic event under-scored in my mind the vital importance of my role on the Defence Select Committee which held a number of briefing sessions in the last week including one with the Secretary of State for Defence, Rt Hon Liam Fox MP on Monday at the MoD. The committee will be working hard to question officials to ensure that any cuts do not adversely impact the support our serving troops receive. We owe them so much and whatever happens in the years ahead the bravery and sacrifice British soldiers have made must not be forgotten. I hope to visit Afghanistan myself later in the year to see firsthand the work our troops are involved with.

Following my meeting at Wessex Community Action in Salisbury a few weeks ago I asked an oral parliamentary question in the House of Commons about Big Society Banks on Wednesday. I have circulated the reply to interested parties. It is gratifying to respond directly to constituents' questions.

Within the constituency I visited Bishop Wordsworth's School for their Founders Day on Saturday, as well as undertaking visits to St Joseph's and the Stonehenge School at Amesbury. I was again put on the spot by groups of pupils. Concern still grows over the Academy status of Salisbury High School, we must hope that the matter is sorted out soon and the investment required for the new buildings will take place. The people of Bemerton Heath desperately need the investment. I also visited The Trussell Trust Food bank in Bemerton Heath on Friday. The Trussell Trust is a remarkable charity which does so much to address real poverty that lies within our community and in many other locations across the UK. I expect to be working there for a day in the next few months to demonstrate my support for this phenomenal social enterprise.

Meanwhile the battle for the CEPR at Porton continues - I am preparing for a meeting at the Department of Health next Monday. I have several questions for the officials.....

John Glen MP