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There has been recent speculation in the media that the Gurkha regiment may be cut from the British army which, like many of you, I read with dismay. However, this is just the speculation of some journalists and an individual MP, and not a view that has been expressed by members of the Coalition Government.

I am clear in my view that the Gurkhas have, for 200 years, provided outstanding service in our Armed Forces, and are doing so at this moment in their operations in Afghanistan.

The Government is conducting a review of all areas of spending on our defence and I believe that the Gurkhas have an important role to play in the future of the British Army. They have also made, given their strong cultural knowledge of the traditions and people of Afghanistan, a unique contribution to our peace keeping and reconstruction work there.

The Gurkhas have, and will continue to have, my full support in Parliament.

Next week in the House of Commons we will be debating the role of our Forces in Afghanistan. Their mission has been long, hard and complex. They have seen acts of great heroism and sacrifice - and tragic losses.

We have all been proud of the service of people from our community and of course, of the Gurkhas. The Prime Minister has stated that he hopes that we will have completed our military operations in Afghanistan within the next five years and certainly we all look forward to the day when our forces can come home.

However, I believe that we cannot cut and run from Afghanistan. That would be a betrayal of the sacrifices made by our servicemen and the Afghanis they work alongside.

An Afghanistan with the local population subdued by Taliban mafia gangs would add to the instability of the whole region and be of particular concern to Pakistan.

There have also been a great many successes in Afghanistan that do not always get the recognition they deserve. The town of Sangin in Helmand Province, for example, which was once a place of heavy fighting and burnt out buildings, has been transformed after two years of work by our forces. There is now a busy market of around 150 stores, schools and a medical clinic.

As our new school year approaches I would also like to send my congratulations to everyone who sat exams this summer and now have their results. Many schools in the constituency had their best ever results and that is a tribute to much hard work from the students and teachers and, of course, supportive families. I would like to wish them well for whatever they plan to do next and also for everyone who is starting a new school or entering their final examination year this September.

Finally, I would just like to plug my new business surgery on Friday 3rd September. This will be the first of a series of monthly lunchtime surgeries for the local business community. If you would like to come along, please contact the Channel Chamber of Commerce on 01303 270022, to arrange an appointment.