Exactly one week after the bomb tragedies in London the two minutes of silence were held at 12 noon last Thursday. 
A large crowd of us from my office block at Westminster stood together on the pavement at the bottom of Whitehall and as Big Ben struck the hour complete silence reigned. 
All the traffic stopped except for one cyclist who was embarrassed into stopping belatedly. 
All engines were turned off and it was a thoroughly moving genuine mark of sadness and respect. 

Apart from that life in London has continued absolutely normally. I was delighted to hear that the three main political parties have united with plans to combat terrorism and although it is never possible to say that we do not face further disruptions or tragedies, it is certain that they will have no long term effect on the British people, using the term British in the most inclusive way.

Yesterday there was a demonstration by our low paid contract cleaners outside the House of Commons and the inclusiveness of our society was clearly shown again. On my train journey home last week the train crew included an Indian, Polish and French ladies as well as someone I took to be English. We all know people from ethnic minorities brought up in this country who have acquired the local accents of the Black Country or the Cockney areas. I believe we really are becoming an inclusive society.

I have continued with useful meetings at home. 

• I have seen the impressive new community science building at King Charles I School with its eco-friendly roof covered with Sedum plants in flower and a feast for bees. 
• I have presented long term awards to members of the Stourport Choral and Operatic Society and 
• been thoroughly frightened of travelling at even 32 mph in a 30 limit by the amazing traffic enforcement equipment manufactured by RedSpeed International on the Birchen Coppice Trading Estate. This firm has taken over part of the business of the defunct firm Monitron and is developing quality and innovation with a highly motivated team of management and staff. The accuracy and reliability of their equipment with routine double checks of every measurement are astounding.

The first meeting of the reformed Health Select Committee was held on Tuesday. 
Another Yorkshire Labour MP, Kevin Barron, was elected as Chairman and the constitution of the Committee is now six Labour backbenchers, three Tories, one LibDem and myself. Early enquiries will be into the proposed ban of smoking in public places, with the Secretary of State for Health, Patricia Hewitt MP, into the deficits faced by the NHS despite the large amounts of money that the Government has put into the Health Service and into NHS dentistry and Public and Patient Involvement in Health with the Minister responsible, Rosie Winterton MP.