FOR those disappointed not to have read anything from me about the Budget before now I can assure them I have had much to do during the last week as readers will gather below.

As I write every word of all my communications with the press the Budget, which everyone will have had full details about from the media, was not high on my priorities before writing this.

I was disappointed with it as many measures in it are expressly opposed, for instance increased fuel tax, by people who have written to me.

Also there is little to help medium-sized businesses and I am still waiting, despite reminders, for a reply to my invited letter, written in February, to the Prime Minister with practical suggestions from some of our major businesses for helpful changes for businesses that would not be difficult for the government to make.

I have learnt that although the PM is generous with offers of meetings or action in response to oral questions in the House he is then, inevitably and understandably, too busy to easily fulfil these promises.

My main disappointment with the Budget and responses to it show that it is yet another political football instead of being what we require so desperately, a cross-party consensus of what the country needs to rescue us from the current crisis.

During the last week I have had meetings with the Chief Medical Officer, with experts on the prevention of blood clots in patients in hospital, with members of the House of Lords for a briefing on the sale of tobacco products, with experts on the harm caused by excessive alcohol consumption, with the chairman of our own Acute Hospital Trust and with the Regional Director of NHS Direct.

Inevitably because of my professional background a lot of my work does involve health issues. But also during this week alone I have been heavily involved with the unacceptable method of paying MPs’ expenses in lengthy meetings and TV interviews which always result in the briefest of sound bites.

I visited BBC Blast on the Market Street car park, attended the AGMs of the Kidderminster Civic Society and Asha Wyre Forest and the St George’s Day Scout and Guide services and parade. I enjoyed the Kidderminster Male Choir’s Spring Concert in aid of Kemp Hospice when they were ably assisted by the ladies of the Kidderminster Valentines.

I wish I could say I enjoyed joining nearly 3,000 others at the Harriers’ match on Sunday. It was thrilling and nail-biting stuff but the last minute loss so hard to bear. I was delighted that affection and support for our players was undimmed by the result judging from their reception at the end of the match and also of the season.

BBC Blast is the BBC’s project which visits different venues to encourage teenagers to develop their creative skills in film making, digital animation, music, art, photography, dance, writing and fashion by workshops, master classes and facilitated performances.

I met Tony Kavanagh, the inspirational director of the project and watched young people making short films of plasticine models they had made and animated themselves. Move over Nick Park!