I ASKED three Parliament Questions this week. The security situation in Iraq continues to be a serious concern.

The so-called Islamic State has considerable military capacity while the Iraqi security forces are reliant on support from local militia and, of course, occasional surgical air strikes by the Royal Air Force and the United States Air Force.

The weakness of Iraqi armed forces is a consequence of the disastrous 2003 US/UK invasion of Iraqi and the subsequent ‘decapitation strategy’ of the Iraqi political and military leadership. In short, it is now necessary for the West to help rebuild, train and equip Iraqi forces in order for them to effectively respond to the Islamic State, a challenge made more difficult by the appalling situation in Syria (President Assad’s conduct is, effectively, stimulating support for the Islamic State).

For these reasons, I asked a question about our measures to support the Iraqi forces with a particular focus on the need to strengthen them in order to repel the Islamic State. Our Ministry of Defence is providing additional training capacity and this is being powerfully augmented by the United States. I always opposed the invasion of Iraq but it is now necessary to ensure it evolves into a secure, well-governed nation.

Another question I asked was about investment in our rail network. Here, I had a local issue to promote; my campaign to reopen the Bristol Road station in Stonehouse in order to enable quicker journeys to Bristol and Birmingham from the Valleys and Vale. Currently, it is necessary to change and Gloucester or Swindon to make such trips and I believe this hampers economic growth and job creation.

My third question was about the ‘productivity gap’.

For too long, our economy has been less productive than some of our main competitors, notably Germany and the United States.

This affects our terms of trade and our ability to increase living standards.

I want a full debate on steps necessary to improve productivity and I also want to see an in-depth select committee inquiry into productivity from the prospective of education, skills and training provision.