Good news this week as Highways England has announced the preferred route for the dualling of the A303 between Sparkford and Ilchester.

Last week I attended a South West Growth Summit put on by our Local Enterprise Partnership in Exeter and I would like to start by saying thanks to everyone involved for what was a very positive event.

Marcus Fysh MP has welcomed the news that the Boundary Commission for England has adopted his proposal to change the name of the constituency to Yeovil and South Somerset. In addition to submitting the proposal to the Commission, Marcus ran a petition to show support from local residents.

Marcus Fysh MP led a debate in Parliament on Thursday 19 October entitled, ‘The Government's review of defence capability’ and also highlighted helicopter manufacturing and operations here in South Somerset.

The next Budget is on Wednesday 22nd November and in the last week the first round of speculative news stories began.

Liam Fox MP joined local MP Marcus Fysh on the morning of Friday 13th October at Yeovil’s Leonardo site for a tour of the facility and a meeting with company bosses.

South Somerset MP Marcus Fysh presented Apprenticeship completion certificates to apprentices at Tods AeroSpace in Crewkerne last week.

Business resumed in the House of Commons this week starting well with an announcement of serious funding to prepare practicalities for systems such as our borders for leaving the EU.

In a fortnight of ‘big speeches’ which I am not convinced have much of an audience outside of the conference centres in which they are made, I would like to focus on three pieces of good policy news which have been connected to grass roots campaigning and will make a real difference.

The House of Commons is in recess now for the party conference season and as usual I am enjoying being in Somerset and seeing more of my family. I have been critical of the timetable before and don’t wish to labour the point but I still think it needs to change.