VISITING the areas of Rosedale, Farndale and the Vale of Pickering at this time of year, nothing could seem more peaceful and remote from any threat of terrorism.

Then returning to London and to the Houses of Parliament on a Monday to be met with uniformed police officers brandishing automatic machine guns, you realise how close, very real and ever present the potential threat of terrorism actually is.

Against that backdrop, the request by the Government to store details of telephone messages and internet traffic seems reasonable.

The law has permitted this for some time and Parliament will be asked this week to confirm, essentially, what is already permitted.

The proposal has sparked a lively debate.

It is not a charter to permit eavesdropping and snooping on people’s telephone conversations nor strangers vetting people’s emails, but what seems a modest attempt to follow up what may be suspicious communications that may be eventually proven to be a terrorist plot.

Le Grand Depart brought thousands of visitors to Yorkshire to experience the Tour de France and sample good local hospitality. The television coverage beamed around the world will surely guarantee future visitors a warm welcome to Yorkshire.

The glorious weather showed the countryside at its best and was followed immediately by the highly successful Great Yorkshire Show, the main showcase for food and farming.

The country shows are a marvellous celebration of the best we have to offer. The livestock are shown with pride. Deliciously Yorkshire had a very enticing demonstration of foodstuffs. The cheese show was out of this world and the greatest display of Yorkshire cheese.

In September, the Select Committee on Environment Food and Rural Affairs will have a one-off evidence session about fracking, in particular focusing on issues relating to the use of water and its disposal, and the environmental impact of fracking activities.

The committee, of which I am chairman, shall also be looking at the increasing practise of horse grazing, whereby horses are left at the road side often in a questionable state of welfare and good husbandry.

Regarding the follow-up to horsemeat scenario, we are still awaiting the conclusions and final recommendations of Professor Elliott, who is advising Defra on how to prevent and contain any future potential fraud and adulteration of meat supplies.

The Danes use a flying squad of inspectors, who descend and carry out spot checks or follow up allegations of malpractice.

Perhaps that is one of the suggestions which could be followed in the UK.