I OFTEN say, only partly in jest, that I am the MP for the British Army, given that there are at least 10,000 uniformed personnel plus their families living in the Devizes Constituency.

This is why I enjoy my job as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Defence Secretary as I am able to raise my constituents’ concerns at the highest level and it also allows me to see the many positive changes happening with our armed forces, such as the elimination of the £40billion “black hole” in the equipment budget, the enshrining in law of a new Military Covenant, the signing of hundreds of local Community Covenants, with Wiltshire leading the way, the doubling of operational allowances, the maintenance of an armed forces pension that remains one of the best in either the private or public sector and the investment of almost £2billion in our Reserves over the next decade.

The nation’s respect and support for the armed forces has rarely been higher and this month I conveyed that message firsthand to members of the Bulford-based 12th Mechanised Brigade who have just returned from Afghanistan and came to the House of Commons to be welcomed home by MPs, peers and commons staff.

I also accompanied the Prime Minister on his first visit to Tedworth House in Tidworth and heard him deliver the same message to those using the superb facilities and benefiting from the wrap-around approach to all aspects of recovery, orchestrated by Help for Heroes.

Amazingly, this is my last column of 2012 – where has the year gone? So I would like to wish all my constituents a peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year. It is a privilege to represent you and if I can help you with anything in 2013, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.