By Neil Carmichael I thought readers may like to know what their Member of Parliament does during the week.

After a morning’s work in the constituency office on Monday, I catch the train (standard class and off peak you will be glad to hear!) from Stroud to Westminster, where I spend Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday participating in debates and representing constituents in the House of Commons. Last week saw the final stages of the debate on the Budget. Most days in Westminster starts at 8.00am and can go on until well past 10.00pm.

Thursday sees my return to Stroud and then last Friday, like all Fridays, I have a full day of constituency meetings and visits. This started with a visit to the History Press Company at Brimscombe Port, who produce local history books, and are the UK’s leading specialist history publisher. I then called into to Stroud Job Centre to discuss issues affecting local residents in seeking work and claiming benefits.

After a quick bite to eat, I hold my weekly advice surgery from 2pm to 4pm, where residents can meet me to discuss their individual cases. I believe it is really important to offer this service, which keeps my feet firmly on the ground about the difficulties and problems constituents face. This was followed by a meeting with Rethink Mental Health to discuss local access to mental health services.

On Saturday morning I called in to the Farmers Market in Stroud (and purchased our family’s Sunday lunch), and then went onto the Stroud Show at Stratford Park at lunchtime, followed by supporting the Community BBQ at the Baptist Church in Stonehouse. Sundays are mainly for time with my family but last Sunday also included an afternoon visit to the One Parish Mass Prize Giving at St Roses Field, where I presented the prizes to the winners of the football competition. Monday morning was spent back in the office sorting constituency correspondence before my return to Westminster this week where we are debating the education reforms to give schools greater freedom in the Academies Bill, something I strongly support.

I always look forward to returning to the constituency on a Thursday evening, because, however busy the diary is, it is always such a pleasure to represent one of the most beautiful constituencies in England, and even though I have lived here for over 10 years, there is always something new to learn every weekend.