NORTH Wiltshire MP James Gray spoke in the House of Commons yesterday during a debate on the Salisbury Incident.

Representing all seven MPs for Wiltshire and Swindon, Mr Gray paid tribute to all those involved in the aftermath of the attack.

He said: "The first thing I think we should do, and it has been done by most speakers throughout the past couple of weeks, is pay enormous tribute to the emergency services in Wiltshire, in particular the ambulance service, the Odstock Hospital workers and the police, who did such a superb job both on the occasion itself—on the two occasions, and in the aftermath.

"I also pay tribute to the Army and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down. They made a huge contribution in the aftermath of the event. I also pay tribute to Wiltshire Council. My noble Friend, Baroness Scott of Bybrook, has been very strong in the support she has given the people of Salisbury and the rest of the county in the aftermath of the event."

He also highlighted the effects the Novichok poisonings have had on the people of Salisbury.

"It would be wrong to exaggerate the effect that these incidents have had on the people of Salisbury, Amesbury and the surrounding district.

"They were, of course, appalling incidents and there was a real feeling at the time of concern that the effect might be wider than it turned out to be.

"As a result, there has been some downturn in tourism and commerce in Salisbury, some 12.9 per cent, I am informed, but it is recovering rapidly. The people of Salisbury are resilient in every way. The businesses I have spoken to realise that they must offer something for the people who come in from the surrounding area, and they are already doing that to a significant degree.

"I do not think that we should talk Salisbury down, the people of Salisbury are well able to handle this.

"Now that it has been made plain that there is no risk of any kind at all to pedestrians or passers-by in the city of Salisbury or elsewhere, I think that people will return rapidly.

“It is very important that we maintain our talks and connections with the ordinary people of Russia. They are not our enemy; Mr Putin and his regime are our enemy.”