THIS week is dominated by the budget. The Chancellor will continue to have limited room to manoeuvre as a result of the deficit – the gap between what we spend and what we have coming in.

We also have to remember that our national debt is equal to £65,000 for every household.

However, over the last seven years the deficit has been cut by two thirds, unemployment is now at a 42 year low and growth is projected for every year forecast.

We have to keep bearing down on it and being honest about the damage that storing up debt will do to the next generations.

I hope there will be measures to deal with the chronic housing shortage and the problem of permissions being given on brownfield sites that are then left undeveloped.

In Salisbury, the average house price in Salisbury is almost 10 times the average wage. More affordable homes are needed to make it possible for people who grew up here to stay local and bring up their own families here – and this picture is repeated across the country.

Targeted additional support should be found for the NHS – for new infrastructure but also for support in the winter period.

I also hope for some pay increases for the lowest paid public servants. The chancellor should try to increase the national living wage and move forward in raising the amount at which people start paying tax. This change will help the least well off.

But it remains vital that the government delivers a balanced budget that is fit for the future – one that works to see debt reduced but productivity in our economy increase. In this area I hope to see further targeted investment in skills and science education as well as support for local businesses in the form of additional business rate relief.

The only way to have more money is to have a more productive economy that is growing faster.

Brexit negotiations must progress so that businesses of all sizes know more about what kind of trading environment they will be operating in and have the confidence to make investment decisions.

I will be continuing a tradition and giving my interpretation of the budget to local business leaders on Friday morning.

Also on Friday, as well as a full advice surgery, I am looking forward to meeting school and church leaders and to visiting Wilton.