Westbury constituency MP Dr Andrew Murrison updates readers on the latest news from Parliament.

CRY Freedom! Shorn of its more swivel-eyed bits, Mr Blunkett's Anti-Terrorism Bill is back on an even keel. It can now expect a safe passage onto the statute books. After much hullabaloo we now have a sensible piece of legislation that will impinge only where really necessary, on our liberties.

But taking liberties is on the agenda elsewhere. We learn that a Euro arrest warrant will oblige our authorities to yield up UK citizens to stand trial in any EU country on demand.

That's good-bye to habeas corpus folks and so much for human rights. Be afraid, be very afraid, particularly if you have a penchant for plane spotting.

The defection of the sad and lonely Labour MP Paul Marsden was rightly dismissed as a matter of little consequence.

History tells us that turncoats rarely prosper, but I hope he finds solace in the camp of his erstwhile opponents.

No doubt he will be watching his back carefully as the footpads of the government whips office trawl for easy prey in the dimly lit corridors of Westminster.

Bidding was brisk as East Devon's MP, an auctioneer by trade, led a lively little debate on south west regional government. I'm certainly not sold on the idea.

In my view we need a frothy new tier of politicians and bureaucrats sitting in Exeter like we need a hole in the head.

What we do need is some urgent attention to the region's road network. Wrapped up in last week's package of road building delays and cancellations was an unwelcome Christmas present for west Wiltshire a delay in funding commitment for the long-awaited Westbury bypass and for the anticipated Codford to Heytesbury improvements.

A leading journalist encapsulated local despondency as he said to me: "I am just fed up with reporting fatal accidents on the A36."

On a brighter note, it was good to accompany Alan Weston of the Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust on a house call in Mere.

Alan is an unusual combination Crime Prevention Officer, trained carpenter and locksmith. So he is the ideal man to reassure the victims of crime and domestic violence.

He had a Home Office-approved door lock fixed for free in a jiffy. Alan is highly successful so far none of his clients have been re-burgled.

Eastleigh Surgery was all mince pies and busking GPs on Friday as the Patients' Forum put on a festive fundraiser for Carers Support West Wilts. Carers are the forgotten heroes of our health care system without them it would all grind to a halt.

Happy Christmas one and all.