IT was a privilege on Saturday to represent the Government at the National Armed Forces Day event in Falmouth as Minister for Defence People. Across the UK, including in Trowbridge, there were more than 100 similar events celebrating the work of our sailors, soldiers and aviators, veterans, cadet forces and families. The national event in Falmouth was a huge success with great support from the public.

This Saturday I will be making a speech before the London Pride March following publication earlier this month of the Etherton report. Judge Lord Etherton was asked by the Defence Secretary to review the way LGBT people were treated in the military between the decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1967 and the lifting of the ban in the Armed Forces more than three decades later.

The review makes for very uncomfortable reading. Lord Etherton makes a number of recommendations that ministers are now working through. I have already issued a ministerial apology but Saturday is an opportunity to restate it to assembled veterans before the march.

Another veterans event on Sunday when I will be at the annual Fovant Badges service. It’s a very British event well attended by veterans and – fingers crossed – generally in fine weather.

A number of frontline community health workers with Wiltshire Health and Care and other health organisations that are closely allied to but not formally part of the NHS have been in touch. They tell me they will not be getting the recently announced covid-related ‘backlog bonus’ awarded to NHS staff. I’ve looked into it and agree that it looks odd. Consequently, I’m writing to the Health Secretary and hope we can find a resolution.

DR ANDREW MURRISON
Conservative MP for South West Wiltshire