Parliament has already been busy and following the party conferences it will get yet more intense.
The final decision on airport expansion is likely to come in the next few weeks. I respect the fact that not all constituents agree with my campaigning against a second runway at Gatwick. However I believe Gatwick is not the right answer, the Davies Commission agreed. The issue though is not yet resolved and intense work continues.
Elsewhere on transport the Rail Minister is now meeting Southern Rail weekly for them to report to her on progress - there is a long way to go but I believe political pressure is delivering results for local commuters.
I promised our Headteachers that I would take up how our local schools are funded: the current system is simply unsustainable. This week, with other West Sussex MPs, I met the Secretary of State on the issue. It was an encouraging meeting but we will not give up until a fairer deal is secured. NHS provision is yet another local issue, among many, which requires focus. After a preliminary meeting with the Health Secretary he knows that I will be coming back for more.
Aside from the major policy items there are many others that matter hugely to individual constituents or firms: last week I met with Ministers to raise the specific concern of a local employer – a regular event. The Commons also held a highly emotional debate on assisted dying: a subject on which I have corresponded with hundreds of constituents. Like a large majority of fellow MPs, after listening to a very intense debate, I voted against changing the law.
With a new Leader of the Opposition, Parliament is in for a hectic few months on national issues but there are specific challenges aplenty to be addressed for Horsham, on which I will be reporting back in future columns.