ON TUESDAY, the Chancellor announced he would introduce measures to help families in the transition to the implementation of the government’s tax credit reforms.

It is important the government continue to focus on reforming tax credits, saving the £12 billion from the welfare budget as promised in our manifesto to help secure the economy.

We spent £45.2 billion per year on debt interest, and all parts of public spending need to be looked at. The proposed changes will help Britain to move to a high wage, low tax, low welfare economy.

The whole package of government reforms, including not just the National Living Wage but the rise in the personal allowance, should leave the vast majority of families better off by the end of the Parliament.

However, it is essential at the same time that the government help families in the transition to a reformed system.

I look forward to the Chancellor outlining his plans at the Autumn Statement, and hope he will take the opportunity to be bold and reform some of the underlying weaknesses and anomalies of our tax and benefits system.

I also raised the subject of human rights during Fiona Bruce MP’s Urgent Question. The Chinese state visit has been a great success – with £30 billion in trade and investment deals, and a new deal on tourist visas.

However, I hope the government will use the relationship with China to constructively and persuasively engage with the Chinese government on human rights issues.

The persecution of Christians in China is an issue I care about deeply, and the stories of arbitrary detention of Christians and those working for religious freedom, and the closure of state-sanctioned churches, is extremely worrying.