This is my first proper update since the government published its Budget. This was of course a very different experience from all previous Budgets, because Gordon Brown was not presenting this one.

Budgets are always a difficult thing to get right. On the one hand it’s a chance for the Chancellor and government to spend money, which is usually popular and can win you friends. Of course at the same time someone has to pay for all of this and so it can equally alienate people.

This wasn’t just a different Budget because Gordon Brown was not presenting it; it was also in the context of international economic conditions. In recent years the UK economy has been very strong with almost unprecedented investment in public services.

We know that financial times are tighter although we should not talk ourselves into economic problems. I remember genuine economic disaster during the 1980s where we had record unemployment, repossessions and business bankruptcies. We don’t face those same challenges now.

Because of the way the country has been run in recent years, even when finances are a bit tighter we don’t have the need for major service cuts. Not only that, the Chancellor Alistair Darling pulled some rabbits out the hat, with children, parents and pensioners benefiting from this.

This year, pensioners across Rutherglen and beyond can look forward to a Winter Heating Allowances of up to £400, and £250 if they are under 80. The minimum income guarantee for pensioners has increased too. Children and parents are also better off because child benefit has gone up as well, to £20 per week for the first child.

The other big political issue recently hasn’t yet taken place in Westminster, although will do in the near future. The Human Fertility and Embryology Bill has had a huge amount of coverage over the past few days, with supporters and opponents of the Bill trading arguments.

This is a very difficult issue. On the one hand we all want to see more being done to tackle horrible diseases and try and prevent them ever occurring. On the other hand many people are concerned that the Bill should not undermine the sanctity of human life. There is still a great deal of discussion to take place but, as a pro-life MP, I welcome the Prime Minister’s assurance that MPs will not have to vote against their consciences on this.