PARLIAMENT’S summer recess began last week and consequently I have had no shortage of constituents eager to “congratulate” me on my six-week ‘holiday’.

In reality, while there will not be debates in the chamber of the House over the summer, behind the scenes ministerial business and constituency work will continue unabated.

For my own part, I am looking forward to putting my weekly commute on hold and spending the summer at home working in Salisbury.

My recess kicked off with a breakfast meeting with newlyelected Salisbury city councillors at which any number of local hot topics were discussed over coffee and pastries (not, I hasten to add, purchased on expenses).

From there it was up to Chippenham to meet with the Local Enterprise Partnership and continue to scrutinise their offering for synergies with Salisbury-based projects and advantages that will flow to the south of the county.

A bumper advice surgery followed – the first of two within four days.

So far this week, I have caught up with Wiltshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner to discuss the outcome of last week’s public meeting on the police station. I acknowledge the concerns of many at the meeting that there are, as would be expected at this point, various unanswered questions that must be convincingly addressed in the weeks to come.

However, I found the Commissioner extremely well-briefed on the options that are open to our senior police officers and I share his confidence in them as they take operational decisions to deliver the necessary arrangements following their decision to vacate the Wilton Road building.

I was also pleased to accept the Bishop of Salisbury’s invitation to join a number of diocesan clergy and experts for a stimulating discussion on reoffending rates and what more can be done to intervene and help convicted criminals to turn their lives around.

I spent yesterday at an all-day conference about the persecution of faith communities in Iran and, due to my long-suffering wife’s protestations, managed to make time for a day out with the kids and to host a barbecue to thank my hardworking staff for their efforts over the year.