I WAS very impressed, once again, by the organisation of Mencap’s annual games last Friday, as well as by the commitment of the South West volunteers to supporting and enriching the lives of people with learning disabilities.

The service they provide is equally important to their families and carers, who turned out in large numbers to cheer on the competitors.

As teachers and children returned to school this week, so my attention has turned back to educational matters in the constituency.

This Friday brings visits to Salisbury Sixth Form and to Stonehenge School.We have a diverse and high quality educational offer in this area and it is wonderful to see it augmented by the UTC and by the new buildings at Wyvern College.

However, continuing investment in buildings and infrastructure is vital to allow S6C to build on the very positive start it has made and to allow Stonehenge to meet the challenges that will come with the arrival of many more young military families.

Friday’s diary also contains a visit to County Hall to follow up on recent and wideranging conversations with officers about south Wiltshire’s interests. I look forward to making further progress towards finding a clearer mechanism for local opinion to be heard and reflected in decisions taken at county level.

Meanwhile I have been continuing to receive large volumes of correspondence on assisted dying – one of the first and most contentious issues due to be debated when Parliament returns next week. I have had thought-provoking conversations and correspondence with constituents of all shades of opinion over the summer and I intend to set out my reflections on the subject in detail next week, ahead of the debate.

My day concludes with a visit to the preview of this year’s Craft and Heritage Fair.