The economic news was brighter again this week. Earlier this autumn the IMF announced that Britain’s economy will be the fastest growing in the developed world this year (and next) thanks to the Government’s long-term economic plan, and new data on inflation and pay this week showed that the recovery is starting to help relative pay levels.

Inflation has now fallen by three quarters since its peak in September 2011, helped by the falling oil price and the fact that average wages are now rising faster than inflation for the first time in five years. But the effects of the recession for which Britain was so badly prepared are still being felt both nationally and locally.

Reports from the latest G20 meeting in Australia were also sobering, suggesting real risks to Britain’s growth could come from the fragility of the global marketplace and the dire problems faced by countries like France whose governments refuse to confront their chronic over-spending without having the economic growth to support it. For me, it has never been more important to stick with the long-term plan to sort out Britain’s economy, as without it, we will not be able to keep investing in public services like the NHS.

I am pleased that the Chancellor has taken action to help hard-pressed people across the country, including cutting income tax for 24 million people, lifting two million of the lowest paid people in the workforce out of tax altogether, freezing fuel duty, freezing rail fares in real terms and reducing the costs of childcare to help working parents.

It was also an unequivocally good week for British equality with the news that the gender pay gap is at its lowest level since records began and also that the Church of England had finally managed to remove the stained-glass ceiling that meant so many of our talented female clergy had been barred from becoming Bishops – a move that was long overdue.

In Parliament, I was delighted to welcome a coachload of visitors who work in community or voluntary groups, like school governors, the Citizens Advice Bureau or parish councillors from across the Devizes Constituency for a tour I had arranged of the Palace of Westminster and a chance to chat. This was a small way for me to say thank you to those who do so much for our communities, often for very little recognition.