THE summer recess is upon us and I am looking forward to being able to spend a lot more time in the constituency, as well as taking the opportunity to complete the Masters Degree I have been undertaking with the Royal College of Defence Studies by writing my dissertation on the Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Before recess, I made a visit with several colleagues to the US to take part in a series of meetings and events. I visited Congress and the Consul General in Boston to discuss trade opportunities around the important life sciences sector in which this constituency plays such a key role. My colleagues and I also addressed a gathering of business leaders on Monday night.

I was particularly pleased to meet Professor John Quelch of Harvard Business School, who backed my concerns around the future of Public Health England at Porton Down and its impact on our trading relationship.

No one can fail to be appalled by the news of Lord Sewel’s misdemeanours and I am pleased he has now taken the decision to resign from the House of Lords. There can be no place for such behaviour among Parliamentarians and I look forward to the investigation into his conduct running its course and appropriate action being taken, as deemed necessary.

The Prime Minister is in the Far East calling for a global effort to tackle corruption,.

Corruption is one of the greatest enemies of progress in our time. We want Britain to be the most open country in the world for investment, but we must ensure it does not become a safe haven for corrupt money from around the world. There is no place for dirty money in Britain. This Government is on the side of people who play by the rules.

That’s why we have already legislated to establish a public central registry of beneficial ownership and established the automatic exchange of tax information, but there is more to do.

The Prime Minister will go further: making property ownership by foreign companies more transparent and publishing data on assets held by foreign owners.

I look forward to taking part in several constituency events over the coming weekend and I will be continuing to hold surgeries and attend events throughout the summer.