I spent some time recently with the Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Munitions and Search Training Regiment at St George’s Barracks, Bicester, learning - very much the basics - of searching for explosives in water and on land, and how they are dealt with once found.

Alongside my campaign to help military families in West Oxfordshire I am pleased to announce that I will be leading a sub-committee review with the House of Commons Defence Select Committee into the conditions of military homes.

Great to stop off at the Forces Support shop in Carterton recently on a busy constituency day out and about in West Oxfordshire.

I was delighted by the Government’s recent announcement to provide an extra £5million in funding to support veterans’ healthcare, improving the help available for the men and women who have served our country.

Following the earthquake in Turkey last month teams from Brize Norton have been dispatched to offer frontline disaster relief.

It was fantastic to visit RAFA Kidz Nursery in Brize Norton.

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the wonderful team and representatives from the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA), who do remarkable work to support RAF families across the UK.

I want to reassure service families that I am very aware of the ongoing issues being raised with the conditions of military housing in West Oxfordshire. I have heard the deep concerns that many of you have with home maintenance and repairs issues.

There are a lot of military charities in the UK, and it's not always easy to understand how they all fit together. Many of them address specific aspects of veterans' lives.

It was, as ever, a pleasure to visit RAF Brize Norton early in the New Year.

I was privileged to attend Shrivenham Defence Academy to attend a course at the Joint Services Command and Staff College recently, as part of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme.