Back in the summer, Climate Friendly Bradford on Avon handed me a petition calling for a 5p charge on single-use plastic carrier bags, signed by more than 1,100 local residents.

I sent their petition on to the Environment Secretary with my support, having already discussed the issue with the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg.

I was therefore delighted when, at Liberal Democrat party conference, Nick Clegg announced that the levy will be introduced in 2015.

Returning to the Houses of Parliament last week, I asked the Environment Minister how he will ensure that neither the Treasury nor the supermarkets cling on to the money raised by the levy.

I was encouraged to hear that the Government will work with retailers to direct it towards good causes instead.

MPs debated and voted on the Lobbying Bill, making important changes to address concerns about the effects on campaigning organisations.

We passed amendments which make clear that only activity intended to promote a party or candidate standing for election will be covered by the expenditure limit.

That means the Bill should not prevent charities from taking their campaigning to politicians in the way they have done in the recent past.

I raised with the Justice Secretary the case of Tony Nicklinson of Melksham, who had locked-in syndrome and sought the right to die.

I asked whether, under his proposed new rules, cases like Mr Nicklinson’s would still be eligible for legal aid. I will pursue the matter with the minister.

In a parliamentary debate about wildlife crime, I highlighted the links between the illegal ivory trade and organised crime and terrorism taking place in Africa.

I argued that governments around the world should come together as a matter of urgency, to crack down on it, as they did when money laundering was similarly linked to terrorist activity.

Back in Wiltshire, I met business people attending a breakfast meeting of the Holt Business Network at the Glove Factory Studios.

Then, with the Rev Andy Gubbins of St Peter’s Church in Chippenham, I discussed the role churches play in our communities, before joining the children, parents, staff and governors of St Peter’s School to celebrate its 40th anniversary.

After a constituency surgery at the Pound Arts Centre in Corsham last Friday, my next surgeries will be at my office in Avonbridge House, Chippen-ham, tomorrow (Saturday), from 10am to 11.30am, and then at Bradford on Avon Library on Friday, October 25, between 3.30pm and 5pm.