PARLIAMENT is “up” for Easter but my local work continues unabated and at the moment I am dealing with three main things.

First, the so-called granny tax. I can completely understand how upset people feel, given the way these changes were reported and if I thought that this was a new tax on pensioners then I would be unable to support it. But it is not.

No one will lose in cash terms as a result of this change. It will help to simplify our Byzantine tax system, which many people tell me they want.

Five million pensioners will be completely unaffected. And this month will see the biggest ever increase in state pensions when they will go up by £5.30 a week as a result of the triple lock guarantee, which means state pensions must rise by the highest of earnings or price increases, or 2.5 per cent.

All pensioner benefits like the winter fuel payment, free prescriptions and eye tests, free bus travel and free TV licenses have been maintained and all pensioners are better off under this government than the last - and quite right too.

Next, fuel shortages. Like many, I felt a twinge of uncertainty last week with the Easter holidays approaching and queues forming at local petrol stations. But the strike talk was premature and I hope that the drivers who want to hold the country to ransom can be persuaded to avoid this action altogether.

Lastly, local health services. With the Health Bill now passed into law, there are many questions being asked about what this means for local services.

I have organised two meetings next week in Devizes and Marlborough where representatives from all parts of our local health services will discuss the changes and if you would like to attend, then please call 01380 729358 or email tamara.reay@parliament.uk to register.