THIS week, I took advantage of the minister’s statement on the regulation of onshore wind farms to seek clarification on the implications for solar farm applications, of which south Wiltshire has several.

I think the answer should give some assurance – asserting once again that green energy targets remain on target to be met but should in no way override or hold disproportionate sway in deciding which projects get the go-ahead.

As ever, it is up to local planners to follow planning rules scrupulously and not hide behind government guidelines but interpret them sensitively and creatively - always with the character of the site in the forefront of their minds.

I also made an intervention in the second reading of the Education and Adoption Bill, which is trying to break down the meaningless boundaries between local authorities, which are preventing the matching of children with good adopters.

There are 180 different councils and agencies recruiting and matching children for adoption. This is bewildering for would-be adopters and it keeps children in care for longer than necessary – just because the right loving family for them happens to live in the next county.

On Wednesday, I was delighted to be successful in my application for an adjournment debate on the future of Porton Down – a valuable opportunity to keep a key issue for the constituency in the public spotlight and at the forefront of minister’s minds.

I called for an acceptance that the business case for relocating parts of PHE to Harlow does not stack up. To my mind, if five years of scrutiny cannot produce a defensible conclusion, the arguments for change must be tenuous at best.

I also urged a holistic appraisal of the potential of the site as an international renowned hub of life sciences expertise – maximising the cross fertilisation between public agencies and occupants of the new Science Park.

I look forward to an exceptionally busy day in Salisbury on Friday, visiting the hospital and three different schools.

Over the weekend I will be attending the Transition city launch, taking part in the Armed Forces Day commemorations and joining the service to bid bon voyage to Peter and Suzanne Clark, who have been such marvellous servants to Salisbury Salvation Army.