Excellent statements from Government and Shadow Ministers had an amazing degree of unanimity during a debate on the Middle East.

The Government made it clear military action is not imminent or inevitable in Iraq and all Britain's efforts now are aimed at achieving Iraqi compliance with United Nations resolutions and the return of weapons inspectors.

The Foreign Secretary gave three guiding principles that should govern the approach to conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

There is no monopoly of right and wrong.

Israelis and Palestinians are going to have to

live side by side.

No solution can be reached by force.

These were endorsed by the opposition spokesman.

I have attended meetings with other MPs about the proposed Stourbridge by-pass to which the objections are well represented by CPRE and about unadopted private sewers that are an emerging problem in many parts of the country.

North Worcestershire DIAL has been awarded a generous grant from the Community Fund (lottery money) to provide advice and support about welfare benefits to disabled people.

I have had concerns from Community First about a new way lottery money is going to be shared which could disadvantage communities for example, village and community halls. I am writing to the Government for clarification.

I was very impressed when I visited Sealine International to learn how much goes on behind the limited road frontage that one can see.

The firm employs more than 500 people, 462 locally, and produces boats of the highest quality with its highly skilled and motivated workforce.

Sealine is a shining example of the sort of manufacturing industry that can succeed in world markets when it is hard to compete with cheap labour costs in the production of everyday items.

I attended the service at St Mary's when the appeal for the repairs to the church bells was launched. Church bells are intended to call people to worship. With the decline of church attendance, when we hear the magnificent peal of 12 bells ring out over Kidderminster, they do remind us of the Christian values that still govern our society. I do hope the appeal will be successful and generations to come will continue to hear the bells above the noise and bustle of the town.

Taking part in the judging of the carnival queen was a challenging but pleasant duty and I look forward to meeting the new queen at functions during the year.