THIS week I have been buried in my new portfolio and had my first outing at the Despatch Box with Departmental questions on Tuesday.

We prepare possible answers among the Ministerial team but there is always the risk of being bowled a googly – luckily this week all went smoothly.

I have also had lots of local business to keep me busy in Westminster. First I was able to congratulate Anne Wilson on her amazing walk from West Lavington to Westminster to highlight the Changing Places campaign. The campaign is working to deliver more functional toilets to help the thousands of people suffering from various conditions that require adaptations such as height adjustable changing benches, hoists (or attachments for portable ones) and space for carers.

Anne cares for her husband David, an RAF veteran who suffers from Motor Neurone Disease, and she explained to me the difficulty of finding suitable places to use and the impact this has on day-to-day activities. I will be working with Anne going forward in making sure we have sufficient local provision, especially in new developments like the fantastic Pewsey Vale Health and Wellbeing centre.

I was also delighted to welcome my first school visitors of this new Parliament when Year 6 pupils from Kennet Valley School near Marlborough came up to Westminster for a tour of Parliament, accompanied by teachers and parent helpers.

They peppered me with relevant and interesting questions, and as always I felt slightly envious that they got to see what happens in Parliament at such a young age – my only trip to the capital as a school child was to London Zoo, when the thing that has stuck in my memory is that that the monkeys stole my friend Karl’s sandwiches. A fun outing it certainly was, but it might have been much more informative to bring us to Parliament.

Westminster now boasts a superb education centre, where tours and age-appropriate fun learning is provided for visiting schools, and I do urge all local schools to consider booking a visit. We can help you to do this if you contact my local office on 01380 729358 or claire.perry.mp@parliament.uk.

Finally, we welcomed another local beer to the House of Commons Strangers’ Bar with the arrival of Pewsey-brewed Three Castles’ Heritage bitter – the latest in a superb line-up of guest beers brewed in the Devizes Constituency that have been selected to feature in this historic drinking space. I pulled some pints for appreciative colleagues who appreciated its smooth taste.