THIS week started with a visit to the Royal College of GPs to see the Prime Minister deliver a speech in which he set out what the Government is doing to support marriage and couple relationships.

Sadly, in my four years as Salisbury’s MP, an enormous proportion of casework generated in surgery has its roots in the sad breakdown in marriages and relationships.

Therefore, I was very pleased to see David Cameron announce that, from this autumn, a family test will be formally introduced into impact assessments of all domestic legislation. The Prime Minister went on to set out a range of other measures focused on helping new parents, supporting couples to stay together (by doubling the annual budget of relationship counselling to £19.5m) and addressing the underlying causes of family breakdown.

I also spent time in the past week making home and site visits and, on Friday, I was able to spend time in a local care home in Amesbury where we discussed the new inspection regimes.

I am in favour of more oversight of elderly residential care to ensure public confidence in standards can be maintained, but I hope the new CQC arrangements will also take account of those local institutions who have exemplary track records so limited resources can be prioritised effectively elsewhere.

Following a number of conversations in recent weeks I am becoming increasingly concerned about the reliability and quality of community social care in Salisbury and south Wiltshire.

I will be taking this matter up with the appropriate authorities in the coming weeks.

I am especially concerned that checks are in place so we can be confident that care packages are being delivered to the high standards we should reasonably expect. I was pleased to attend the Cancer Research concert in Salisbury Cathedral last Friday evening and this Friday I will be speaking at a conference in Westpoint, Exeter, at the request of Salisbury City Church.

On Saturday I will be at Woodford Valley’s Gardening Club produce show to see just how superior my neighbours’ gardening efforts have been over recent months.