I have received many expressions of serious concern about the situation in Gaza. 
Although people recognise that Israel has the right to defend itself from the rockets launched by Hamas everyone is appalled by the scale of the response and the inevitable casualties among children and other civilians.

MPs share these concerns and they have been expressed in well supported Early Day Motions. The latest expressed "outrage at Israel's overwhelmingly disproportionate use of force in Gaza which continues to inflict massive civilian casualties, particularly among children and which has involved strikes on aid convoys, United Nations schools and medical personnel;". 
It continued by calling for an immediate ceasefire and redoubled international efforts to a achieve a lasting settlement satisfactory to both sides.

The Foreign Secretary made a statement to the House on 12 January. 

• First he outlined the situation and the international efforts, including the UN resolution with Britain at its heart, that are being made to halt hostilities. 
• Then he spoke about the need for emergency aid which depends on Israeli cooperation and the need for security improvements to curb illegal arms getting into Gaza. 
  He concluded as follows: 
  "Peace benefits Israelis and Palestinians; war kills both. They are destined to live next door to each other. They can either do so as combatants or neighbours. We are committed to help them do the latter."

The level of concern among MPs about Gaza is so high that a short debate (for today) has been extended to a full day. 
Unfortunately as I am committed to two Health Select Committee meetings I will be unable to contribute as, to take part, you have to be in the Chamber for the opening and closing speeches and effectively all the time between these until, and if, one is called to speak.
________

Due to bad planning of debating time by Government and Opposition representatives the main business in the Chamber ended two hours early on Monday and more than three hours early on Tuesday this week. 
It makes me doubly sore at the ridiculous time limit of less than two hours for the debate on the Health Select Committee report on the dental contract during which I was not called to speak just before Christmas.
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My exasperations are less at home! 
I went to Wolverley CE Secondary School Presentation Evening in Kidderminster Town Hall on 7 January. Its accolade as a Specialist Music College was thoroughly justified by Music Items performed to high standards by students, Peter Valentine, Jamie Partridge and Lauren Mobley.

Primary School Teachers' exasperations with Key Stage 2 examinations were passed to me by the Head at Heronswood Primary School. 
The pressure is so great on 11-year olds to complete these complex exams in the 45 minutes allowed, that staff have to use a whole term specifically preparing children for these tests rather than teaching them new, interesting and vital facts. 

I have written to the Schools Minister to pass on these criticisms and now wait for a reply. Hopefully as the Government saw what was wrong with Key Stage 3 and abolished these exams they might listen and act again now on Key Stage 2.