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The public reaction to some scandalous stories about MPs expenses is entirely understandable. Where actions are inexcusable it is right that action is taken against those who have done something wrong. But that’s not the whole story. I am happy to answer questions about my own claims - though I also want to point out that I work full-time as the MP for Cardiff South & Penarth. Some MPs earn large sums outside Parliament as barristers or company directors or in other ways. I don’t.

My statement that “volunteering is the essential act of citizenship” has gained widespread acceptance since I first made it in 1997 as part of a general package of initiatives which included the idea of a ‘compact’ between Government and the voluntary sector. Within that approach the concept of a local compact, led by the Local Authority with its community partners, was absolutely central. The ‘compact’ is an agreement between government and the voluntary sector on how to work together, on how to share principles and best practices, and how both can influence the other and become more effective.

As a Minister of State, in Defra I helped to guide the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 through parliament. Inside government there had been opposition to the legislation until minds were concentrated by the tragedy in Morecambe when 21 Chinese immigrant Labourers were killed by the rising tide as they gathered cockles in the bay. The deaths were a direct result of the awful conditions in which they were forced to work. No legal rights, no health and safety measures, no minimum wage.

Over the past few months I have said a good deal about my work on audio description. I am pleased to say that we have made great progress. Blind people, and others with limited sight will get help through the government’s digital switchover helpscheme will now have one-button access to audio description thanks to the decisions made by Andy Burnham. Sky are now audio describing 20% of their programming and the BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5 are looking into what they can do to increase rates of audio description. But as they say every silver lining has a cloud.

The death of one youngster at the hands of another is tragic and evil – so the outburst of popular anger is totally justified. In contrast, the solidarity shown to the family at the Everton game on Saturday was generous, spontaneous and right.

A recent letter from a constituent raised the issue of Europe. The writer is outraged that my fellow MPs and I - he alleges - have "given away powers to Brussels". He was ruder than that, but you get the idea ………...

Last week, sparks flew in the House of Commons – and outside - over the issue of UK settlement rights for former Gurkhas. Most people’s reaction was simple: They have risked their lives for us so they should have the right to settle in the UK. Indeed that is the argument I put to Ministers, including a face-to-face meeting a few hours before the vote.

Comment on the budget is always a game of extremes – the government’s supporters are expected by the media to defend every single line as both wise and inevitable, opposition MPs are expected to compare the Chancellor’s decisions to Caligula and Attila the Hun. Neither side falls down on these expectations, and it is my impression that most people wait for the cacophony to die down so that they can work out what the real implications.

In recent weeks I have been going through the excitement and the pain of a public bill committee. It is almost always interesting because major legislation deal with real-life issues – but it also mops up great tranches of your life for several weeks.

Thursday, 11th March is ‘National No Smoking Day’. There will be events designed to help people who want to stop smoking. As a former smoker I ‘gave up’ smoking quit some 25years ago. The biggest part of quitting is making the decision and sticking to it, and while the decision to stop smoking is a very personal one there are many things that can be done to help those who want to quit.