I WAS last on a motorbike more than 30 years ago. But local journalist Mark Kimpton is a serious biker and road safety expert and the offer of a tour of the pitfalls of the A36 on the back of his BMW was too good to miss.

My interest has been sparked by a recent spate of accidents, particularly in relation to the Upton Lovell turning. On Monday, prised from the cocoon of my tank-like Volvo, the world seemed very different and the vicissitudes of the A36 much more vivid.

Last week I spoke with the Highways Agency and think there is general recognition that ‘something must be done.’ If you’re a road user or resident, I’d be delighted to have your views.

Military law is more stringent than civilian law, necessarily so as it governs disciplined fighting forces. But routinely denying people citizenship because of a conviction under the former when no such action would have been taken against a civilian seems unfair. It appears to run contrary to the level playing field enjoinder under the military covenant that no disadvantage should accrue from military service.

What’s more sometimes the convictions in question could be issued after summary proceedings by Commanding Officers which, though all officers endeavour to do their best, hardly equate to a courtroom hearing.

Following reports in the press and constituency correspondence that foreign nationals serving in our Armed Forces with distinction have been repatriated after leaving the Army because of a relatively minor conviction under military law, I have written to the defence secretary asking him to investigate and report back.

There are good philosophical and practical arguments for a nation wherever possible manning its Armed Forces with its own nationals but whilst the UK relies on the services of others we must do the right thing by them.

I feel sure the government, which last year wrote the military covenant into law, will want to address the inequity that appears to exist.

On the related issue of criminals once released being allowed to stay in the UK because of their supposed human rights, I will be giving the government every encouragement in taking a robust line. Ironically, we appear to be willing to give leeway to serious foreign villains and terrorists pleading their human rights but no quarter to young men who have been prepared to die in our service but find a youthful altercation leading to a summary weighing-off by the CO with repatriation on leaving the Army in consequence. That can’t be right.