As Parliament was not sitting, a good deal of my last week was spent talking to young people in Wiltshire, including answering questions from primary pupils at the Queen’s Crescent School in Chippenham and St George’s School in Semington.

Topics ranged from the crisis in Syria to the British Royal Family. It was great to see Pupil Premium money – introduced by the Liberal Democrats in Government – being spent on personal tuition and catch-up classes to make sure that pupils do not fall behind.

At Corsham Town Hall, I discussed the cost of public transport in Wiltshire with pupils from a number of local schools, who are serving on Corsham Youth Council, and later fielded questions from members of the Broughton Gifford and Holt Cub Scout pack.

I also visited two of our area's largest employers – Cooper Tires in Melksham and Siemens Rail Automation in Chippenham – which provide vital jobs for local residents.

Since 2010, businesses have created more than a million new jobs across the country, and my Liberal Democrat colleagues and I are working to help create a million more.

Apprenticeships are key to that, so we are aiming to double the number of employers offering them. I was therefore delighted to join Wiltshire Council at the Guildhall in Salisbury to celebrate it surpassing its target of getting local businesses to take on 1,000 apprentices this year.

I learnt more about the support provided each week by 57 Alcoholics Anonymous groups around Wiltshire, at an event held in Chippenham Town Hall.

I also discussed our local GP, dentist and pharmacy services with the local director of NHS England at his office in Chippenham.

At St Anthony’s Church in Melksham, I attended the opening of Wiltshire Mind’s drop-in centre, which will help people with their mental health.

I also volunteered in the new Barnardo’s shop in Pewsham, to support and learn more about the valuable work the charity does locally for vulnerable young people.

From there, I visited Melksham Foodbank’s new base, where they will soon be holding weekly drop-in sessions on Monday afternoons, for people to collect emergency food parcels and gain other advice and support they may need.

After a busy constituency surgery in Melksham last Friday, my next are at the Pound Arts Centre in Corsham today (Friday), between 10am and 11.30am, and at my office in Avonbridge House, Chippenham, on Saturday, October 19, from 10am to 11.30am.