I WAS pleased to be at the cathedral on Sunday and to join a large congregation in warmly welcoming the new Dean, The Very Reverend Nicholas Papadopulos.

I look forward to getting to know him and to working together for the good of our community in the weeks and years ahead.

It has been another busy week in London, with Treasury questions to field on Tuesday and, on Wednesday, the launch of Help to Save – a new scheme to enable people on Universal Credit and tax credits to receive up to £1,200 from the government over four years to encourage regular saving.

Help to Save is intended to ensure that saving is not just for the rich. By giving a tax free bonus of 50p for every £1 saved and by allowing savers to spend the bonus without restrictions, I want to revive the culture of saving that is so vital to create a safety net for our families and guard against unexpected expenses.

This has been a work in progress for some time. So far, 45,000 people are already participating in trials and have saved over £3m. I hope that the official launch will encourage many more people to join them.

Following the launch and the associated media demands, it was good to hear the general debate on the Salisbury incidents

Although ministers are unable to participate in debates on subjects outside their ministerial remit, I was pleased by the widespread concern expressed about the impact on Salisbury and the implications of the events for our national security.

There was good news for the arts this week, with the appointment of Wiltshire College governor Helen Birchenough as chair of Arts Council South West. This is a huge honour for Helen but also a genuine reflection of the esteem in which Salisbury’s arts community is held.

I am returning to Salisbury early on Thursday before having to fly to Scotland to give a speech on financial services. I look forward to being around the constituency throughout next week, as Parliament rises for the party conference season.