The economy now seems firmly on the road to recovery. Last week, official figures revealed the economy grew by 1.5 per cent in the last six months. This wouldn’t be happening without the work Liberal Democrats have done in government.

We have ensured that Britain is investing for the long term, in railways, superfast broadband and renewable energy.

We have also made sure that there are opportunities for young people, with 1.5 million new apprenticeships started since 2010, more than 15,000 in Wiltshire.

That news provided a fitting backdrop to a visit to Wiltshire last week from Liberal Democrat Business Secretary Vince Cable.

I was pleased to introduce him to local businesses, amongst them advanced engineers in automotive and rail systems, to discuss the work we are doing to build a stronger economy.

High quality engineering has long been key to Britain’s economic success, and will continue to be so in the future.

Engineering firms – several of them in our part of Wiltshire – provide highly skilled jobs, as well as the technology on which so many people and businesses rely.

In Parliament, I met Barry Brooks, a Wiltshire resident and president of the Institution of Engineering and Technology at an event they were hosting to encourage young people – particularly young women – to pursue careers in engineering.

We need more engineers, and I hope many young people will check out www.

tomorrowsengineers.org.uk and consider a career in engineering. There are certainly top jobs here with blue chip firms if they do.

In the Commons, I asked the Planning Minister for reassurance that he would defend local plans like Wiltshire Council’s from speculative development, once they have been adopted.

I also had the chance to chat with Meningitis Now ambassador Aaron, from Abbeyfield School in Chippenham, at an event calling for a group B vaccination programme.

On Friday night, I watched a lively performance by a troupe of young Palestinian dancers as part of their week-long visit to St Augustine’s School in Trowbridge.

I also got the chance to discuss the situation in the West Bank with one of them, who was staying with a constituent, over breakfast the next day.

After a constituency surgery at Bradford on Avon library last Friday, my next surgeries are at The Pound arts centre in Corsham today, from 2-3.30pm and at Melksham Town Hall on Saturday, this time from 10-11.30am.