Like many people, I have been troubled by news emerging from Afghanistan and I share your concerns about the current events.

First of all, I want to thank all the people who have made extraordinary sacrifices over the last year and a half by following the rules, helping to keep the pressure off the NHS and taking up the offer of a vaccination when it was made.

Building on the success of the plastic carrier bag charge, we have doubled the charge and extended it to all retailers. We have also banned the use of plastic microbeads and various single use plastic items.

The local vaccination programme has made immense progress and most of my constituents have had both of their jabs.  It is wonderful that Public Health England have such positive data about their effectiveness, including against the Delta variant.

I stood on a manifesto that pledged to maintain an aid budget of 0.7 per cent of the UK’s gross national income.

I understand that many people have strongly held views about this subject. I too want to see a vibrant, working countryside enhanced by a diverse environment.

This is an issue which is regularly raised with me by the many cattle farmers in my constituency as well as those concerned about local wildlife.

The first duty of any Government is to protect citizens and communities, keep them safe and to ensure that they can get on with their daily lives peacefully and without unnecessary interference.

British agriculture has among the highest welfare standards in the world, and all livestock farms must comply with comprehensive environmental and animal welfare legislation.