After merchant and naval vessels, including ours, had been attacked by drones operated by Houthi rebels in Yemen, the PM rightly ordered carefully targeted strikes on their positions. We worked closely with US Forces. Since this happened last week, the PM made a Statement to the House at 1530. He explained very sensibly and clearly why he had ordered these strikes and most MPs on all sides of the House backed him. There were one or two who disagreed, fearing this would only lead to escalation. So, we sit on our hands and see vessels lawfully using a vital international trading route attacked and potentially sunk, or having to divert thousands of miles around S Africa? I really cannot fathom the thinking of some members. The sessions lasted a long time and, to my amazement, the Speaker called me right at the start, catching me off guard. My question and the PM's reply is on my website. This Statement followed a fascinating morning at Lancaster House, where all the great and the good in the military world had gathered to listen to a major speech by Defence Secretary Grant Shapps. We all met at 0900 for coffee and croissants, before being directed into a large and very ornate room for the speech itself. Mr Shapps spoke authoritatively and well, before taking questions from the press and media. His speech is on my website, but my question to the PM later followed Mr Shapps' comments that we lived in dangerous times and faced many threats. If that is the case, our Armed Forces need more funding. Arbitrary figures of 2 or 2.5 per cent of GDP are meaningless, in my view. A former Greater Manchester Police detective who left the force in disgust of their handling of young girls who were groomed in Rochdale, said the problem persists in the town. Everton and Nottingham Forest were charged with breaching the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules. And, abroad, multiple houses and buildings in the Icelandic town of Grindavik were engulfed in flames after lava surrounded them, Depressingly, fresh strikes were announced by the train drivers' union Aslef.