LAST week produced a sobering debate in Parliament, and the outcome of the vote and the ongoing crisis in Syria has continued to dominate the headlines.

It was a difficult decision but I supported the Government’s motion, on the basis that there would have been a further vote before any form of military action was taken.

I did so because I believed in the spirit of that motion – that the use of chemical weapons is an abhorrent crime, and the best way to try to resolve it is through international consensus that respects the processes of the United Nations, but that no option should be ruled out.

However, as neither the Government nor the Opposition motion was ultimately passed, I am extremely disappointed that our Parliament did not express any view at all about the atrocities committed last month.

I am a passionate believer in the value of both international aid and soft power through diplomacy. Just last month the Prime Minister announced a further package of £175m in aid: the largest single funding commitment ever made by the UK in response to a humanitarian disaster.

Nevertheless, this increased aid spending does not deal with the root causes of the crisis, and I remain gravely concerned for large refugee populations and the impact they have on fragile neighbouring states.

The UK must continue to support our international partners and ensure that diplomatic efforts are sustained – an approach which reflects the will of Parliament. I pressed the Foreign Secretary on Tuesday about the significant value of our humanitarian contribution and our commitment to negotiation, which I believe demonstrates that military action would never be considered lightly.

On Monday, I questioned the Defence Secretary on the education of service children. With the relocation of 4,000 troops and their children from Germany, the schools of south Wiltshire will face significant challenges.

The £300 yearly service pupil premium provided for every child will help support our local schools. I sought assurance that these extra resources would be targeted, and that best practices can be adopted so that the impact of this investment is maximised.