Last week, Nick Clegg announced the biggest increase yet in the Pupil Premium funding for primary school children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

It will mean an extra £500,000 for primary schools in the Chippenham constituency. My fellow Liberal Democrats and I are working to build a fairer society enabling everyone to get on in life, and this money will help ensure that all pupils can reach their full potential, whatever their family background.

In Parliament I congratulated Schools Minister David Laws on delivering the Pupil Premium – as promised on the front page of our manifesto at the last election.

However, I pointed out that not every school I visit is able to say how they are spending it.

To make sure that it is used most effectively to help those who need it most, I suggested that schools should tell the parents of all disadvantaged pupils how they are spending this money to help their children.

Back in the constituency on Thursday night, I met local small business owners to discuss with them how we can build a stronger economy in our part of Wiltshire.

On Friday, I and Swindon and Salisbury’s MPs met the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership, to plan how we can help it in that effort.

At both events, as when I visit businesses around the constituency these days, I am struck by how upbeat local business is –more so than at any time since the financial crisis struck.

Indeed, there was encouraging news in the latest jobs figures for the Chippenham constituency. Both the total number of job seekers and the number of local young people out of work fell again, and are now at their lowest levels since 2008.

I’m determined to see those numbers fall further still, and that’s why my Liberal Democrat colleagues and I are aiming to help businesses create a million more jobs, and new apprenticeships.

On Sunday I cut the ribbon to open a new patio area at Melksham’s Brookside residential home, run by the Orders of St John.

It was a pleasure to meet the residents and staff, who have contributed to the refurbishment through a sponsored exercise bike ride.

After a busy surgery at Bradford on Avon library on Friday, my next surgeries are at Bradford on Avon library on Monday, August 5 between 11am-12.30pm and at Melksham Town Hall on Thursday, August 8 between 10-11.30am.