EVERY week I receive hundreds of letters and emails from my constituents and with my crack team of staff in Westminster and Devizes we try to solve the problems raised, answer questions and offer support.

We have three main working rules; first that we will have a go at almost any problem and try three times to solve it before throwing in the towel; second that we will try to reply within ten days and third that if correspondents are unpleasant, abusive or just want to “have a go”; (a very small but often persistent group) we file their letters and emails straight in the bin.

We also communicate a lot using my Claire Perry page on Facebook (the one with the blue tick if you are searching) and this is a great place to flag up local events or services such as the superb Wiltshire Citizens Advice who offer a comprehensive online service or face-to-face advice in Devizes and Tidworth and with whom we work very closely on issues of debt, benefit claims, housing advice and some legal services.

I spotted this week that they are also delivering Pension Wise services on behalf of the Government.

Since April 2015 pensions have changed to give people more freedom to choose what to do with their pension pot and this service can help you go through your options and make some decisions. The advice is free and impartial and can really help to build financial security.

Pensions do feature a lot in my postbag at the moment, especially given the changes to women’s pension ages to equalise them with men. It was always going to be very tough to make these changes, as sensible and fair as they seem. Indeed they were first proposed in 1995 but given the need to make the pension system fair and sustainable, the process was accelerated slightly in 2011 albeit with a change so that the maximum increase was capped at 18 months relative to the 1995 timetable. That required funding of £1.1 billion, helping those women affected with the transition to a later State Pension age.

I firmly believe people who have worked hard all their lives deserve security in their retirement and have always welcomed the 'triple lock' to the basic State Pension, which is now £1,100 per year higher than in 2010 and those reaching pension age this April will receive the single, flat rate of £155.65, which will also be triple locked, including women affected by the 2011 State Pension age changes.