The Treasury should protect the FCO’s budget in the 2015 Spending Review, with a view to increasing rather than cutting the funds available to support the diplomatic work on which the country’s security and prosperity depend.

Crispin Blunt has today welcomed the Rail Minister Claire Perry’s comprehensive follow up to the series of issues raised by him and other MPs on the Southern Rail franchise route in a recent adjournment debate.

The Cabinet Secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood, has confirmed that Ministers who have a constituency interest in the national decision to be taken on airport expansion will not be involved in the Government’s response to the Davies Commission’s report.

Crispin Blunt MP welcomed the Chancellor’s Budget Statement today and is encouraged to see a guaranteed real increase in the defence budget every year as well as a new joint security fund of £1.5 billion a year by 2020. He warned, however, that the details of the commitment to spend 2% of GDP on defence will need to be examined carefully.

Members of the Gatwick Coordination Group welcome the Airports Commission’s endorsement of Heathrow as the location for the UK’s new runway.

Crispin Blunt MP has called again on the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood, to make sure Ministers who have a constituency interest in the national decision to be taken on airport expansion are not involved in the Government’s consideration of the Airports Commission report due to be published tomorrow.

Crispin Blunt MP, the newly elected Chairman of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee, asked at Prime Minister’s Question Time today for assurances that the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) would not undermine the ability of the Foreign Office to deliver the country’s strategic foreign policy objectives.

Crispin Blunt MP has been announced today by the Speaker as the new Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, winning the election in the secret ballot open to all Members of Parliament. He will be taking over from Sir Richard Ottaway who retired from Parliament at the last election.

Six local campaign groups opposed to Gatwick expansion and four senior MPs have called on the Government to recognise the devastating impact of a second runway at Gatwick, the lack of local political support and the strength of feeling among local residents against changes to flight paths already in and out of Gatwick.

The All Party Parliamentary Jordan Group wishes to offer its condolences to the Jordanian people and Government, and express its horror at the brutal murder of First Lieutenant Muath al-Kasasbeh at the hands of ISIS.