As Schools Minister, it has also been a really busy time for me but this week was historic. On Monday night the Education and Skills Bill completed its journey through Parliament.

What is historic about that is that this legislation will raise the education and training leaving age to 18. We are not raising the school leaving age, as I have said before. People will still be able to leave school at 16 but they will need to carry on some form of education, training or learning for the equivalent of a day a week so they can secure the qualifications they need to be able to progress in life, and the country can secure the level of skill we need to be able to compete internationally in the years ahead.

The measure has been supported by people in business such as the CBI and I think this is a real breakthrough for us in raising the ambition and aspiration for every child in the country. This is something that Winston Churchill first proposed 100 years when he put forward the idea of raising the age to 17, then another attempt to raise the leaving age after the First and Second World Wars. Finally it has been completed by this Government and I have been extremely honoured to take the Bill right the way through Parliament, from conception through to completion.

The other thing I have been proud of over the past couple of weeks is that I have been made a Privy Counsellor. This is a historic position that means I now carry the title Right Honourable in front of my name and it's a position I will carry for life.  It means I am a Privy Counsellor to the Queen, the Sovereign, perform various functions and offer advice to the Sovereign and attend various meetings with the Queen in respect to her duties as Head of State.

 While there has been a lot going on with respect to problems regarding the Educational Maintainence Allowance and tidying up after the problems with the SATs, there is also a lot of positive things going on in our schools. The new diplomas are being taught very successful and are proving popular and the new OFSTED report is coming out and reports the best ever results by schools in this country. I am immensely proud of the job we are doing.       

The national political situation has been dominated by the effects of the global credit crunch and the impact on our national economy.

I have been very pleased with the leadership that Gordon Brown has shown - he has displayed a steady, sure-footedness, alongside the Chancellor, in finding ways through very difficult circumstances.

This was demonstrated at the recent G20 meeting. Gordon's lead on the economy has been followed by leaders, of all political persuasions around the world. His fiscal response combines cutting taxation to put more money in people's purses and wallets to spend in the high street, and filling the gap in government income because of those tax cuts by borrowing to invest in public services.

I think that is the right response, as do many of the world's top economists. This contrasts with those on the other side of the political divide in Parliament who think we should be cutting public spending. There does not appear to be another serious political voice anywhere in the Western world who is suggesting we should cut spending at this particular point in the economic cycle.

If we followed their advice and cut spending in areas, for example, such as the school building programme, which I am responsible for as Schools Minister, it would have serious consequences not only for our economy but also for businesses such as the construction industry who are struggling so much at the moment.

I think Gordon Brown has been in touch with what has been going on in the global economy, did the right thing in relation to the banks (as then replicated in other countries) and we look forward to the Pre Budget Report next week to see what is next in relation to the economy.

There has been lots going since September and apologies that I haven't been keeping people up-to-date through the website for the past few weeks.

The Relief Road in Weymouth has receieved planning consent and I am now working with the Department for Transport to ensure all the final details relating to the funding are sorted out. It's great to see work already starting on the route in terms of the archeaological investigations.

We have also had the 'bedroom tax' issue in the Purbeck area continue to rumble on. This week I wrote to David Cameron, who visited Swanage last Friday in his capacity as Leader of the Conservatives, to ask whether he during his visit had a word with the Conservative councillors who lead Purbeck District Council and asked them to follow what the Conservative Local Government spokesman, Eric Pickles, has said which is the 'bedroom tax' should not continue. My letter to Mr Cameron may hopefully help in persuading Purbeck District Council to do the right thing and not proceed with this pernicious tax.

Unfortunately the campaigns to keep the post offices at Broadwey and Buxton Road in Weymouth were not successful. We, as a local community, put a good case to Post Office Ltd and I am very grateful to all constituents who got in touch, but unfortunately the Post Office have chosen to proceed with the closures. My full submission to the Post Office on this issue can be found in the Press Release section of this website.

Some of the other features that have been moving forward in the past couple of months has been continued progress at Portland and the development of the sailing academy which is all set for opening later this week. Also on Portland, the Academy education proposal is proceeding well with good interest and positive meetings with the County Council. I am very pleased with how the council is engaging on that project and also the Relief Road.

Unfortunately however there are examples of not so good work by our local councils such as Weymouth and Portland Borough Council turning down Government cash that would give free swimming for pernsioners. Frankly, I think their excuses for refusing this money do not hold water. They should be offering this great opportunity for local pensioners to swim for free at the swimming pool in Knightsdale Road.