On Monday we had in Parliament the pre-budget report. This was arguably the most important pre-budget report, as the economy has gone through a series of sharp shocks over the past few months, on the back of unbelievable and unprecedented global financial turbulence.

The House of Commons is always at its best during big set-piece occasions. The pre-budget report doesn’t have the theatre of the Budget that normally takes place in March, but this pre-budget report was the closest thing I’ve seen to a fully-fledged budget not only since I’ve been an MP, but in my opinion my lifetime.

One of the first things the Chancellor said to the House of Commons was that these are exceptional times and require exceptional measures. I think everybody acknowledges this assessment – the issue and key test is then what you do in those exceptional times.

That is why the Chancellor’s pre-budget report is so important as a means of helping people in these difficult times. A very clear decision has been made by the Government that it should help people as much as possible and as quickly as possible, by putting money into the economy now so we can come out of these times sooner and stronger.

You will be aware of the one year cut in VAT of 2.5 per cent. This puts a staggering £12.5 billion back into the economy by the Government.

From January, every pensioner will get an extra £60 – that’s not marked down for a couple, who will get £120 per household. From April the state pension will rise by £4.55 from £90.70 to £95.25 a week.

For families with kids, there will be an increase in child benefit to £20 a week, and this will be brought forward to January rather than the traditional time to increase in April. The Government is also increasing child tax credit by £75 a year in April.

These measures should help many thousands of hard-pressed families in Hartlepool. And some of the other measures will hopefully have a great impact upon the economy of the town. We should receive some of the £775 million brought forward on housing, which will improve energy efficiency and build much needed housing in the town. We will also receive part of the £150 million extra money on the Warm Front programme, which has already helped a whole range of people in Hartlepool. Given the importance of building a new generation of primary and secondary schools in the town, I am excited at the possibility of the £800 million investment which will be brought forward on these programmes. I also aim to work to ensure we will receive part of the extra £100 million to upgrade GP surgeries to training practices.

The issue of exceptional times and how you can respond is something which I think is important and is a prime example of where different choices in politics can make a difference. This is something I mentioned in my column piece last month. Do you take the view that it is the natural order of things, that there will need to be a period of hurt for some people while the economic cycle adjusts itself? This seems to me to be some of the things that Ministers said in the 1980s and 1990s – things like “if it isn’t hurting it isn’t working”, or “three million unemployed is a price worth paying for low inflation” are phrases that I think are wrong, even immoral. That is not why I am in politics.

I have heard it said that recession can be good for us as people smoke less, drink less alcohol, eat less rich food and spend more time with there families.

I fundamentally disagree that a recession can be good for us.

That is why the government cannot shrug their shoulders and say that a recession is inevitable, even desirable. It’s like someone in adverse weather saying that they don’t need to build a shelter because Mother Nature often gets a bit choppy and cold. The Government should be doing all that they can to help people in this country to weather the storm. This is why I welcome the pre-budget report.

Community have produced a new film showing the violence and threats betting shop employees are faced with every day...

This film has been produced to highlight the violence and abuse that betting shop workers face every day.

By showing this film to members of the public, local councillors, members of the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly and Westminster, Community hopes to influence opinion and change attitudes.

The video is viewable on the Community homepage http://www.community-tu.org/ or,

on YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwST95YFrK8

Community will be using this video to relaunch our campaign to improve the safety of workers in betting shops.

More information about Community's campaign to protect betting shop workers is available here www.community-tu.org/bettingshop

On Tuesday 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, over 50 male and female MPs stood together outside parliament to highlight the importance of more being done to end violence against women. The MPs wore a white ribbon, to highlight that violence against women is not only a women’s issue, but an issue that should concern us all.

Iain Wright said

"I'm on the side of vulnerable women in Hartlepool who are forced into marriage against their will. The Government has demonstrated its commitment to protecting the vulnerable and supporting victims of forced marriages.

I supported and voted for the The Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act, which comes into force this week, to protect victims of forced marriage and prevent others from the same fate."

On top of current criminal protection, the Act will provide robust civil protection for vulnerable people threatened with forced marriage and enhance the rights of people from across different communities in the UK who are affected by this problem.

The Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act comes into force on White Ribbon Day which brings together men and women of many different communities and backgrounds to raise awareness of domestic violence.

The Act will enable courts to prevent forced marriages and order those responsible for forcing another into marriage to change their behaviour or face jail. The Forced Marriage Act is a powerful tool and will go a long way to ensuring that no-one will be forced into marriage against their will, and those already in such marriages will receive protection.

The Act does not make forced marriage a criminal offence. Many of those who were consulted were worried that criminalising forced marriage would force the issue underground, with victims also afraid to take criminal action against their family member. Police and courts, however, will be able to treat many of the practices associated with forced marriage such as kidnap and assault as criminal offences.