It was an opportunity to take stock of what we have achieved recently and work out what comes next.

Top of the list of what we are proud of is the consistently high ratings that people in Burnley and Padiham have given us for the service that we provide.

In the last survey – of everyone we did casework for in 2007 – we achieved an 82% satisfaction rating, which I am delighted by. So thank you to everyone who took the trouble to let us know how we are doing.

Conversely, if you think there are things we can do better please do not hesitate to get in touch and make suggestions to us.

At our team meeting we also agreed we should use the next few months to put maximum pressure on hospital managers to get a grip on their vision for the future of Burnley General Hospital.

As I reported last week, I met the new hospital chief executive, Marie Burnham, in her first few days in the job. I made it clear at that meeting that what my constituents want is a first rate hospital in Burnley, one in which they can be proud.

While the managers keep saying Burnley hospital has an exciting future, specialising in planned operations and maternity care, we have yet to see it materialise.

So people are rightly worried, not least because there are lots of scare stories flying around as well.

The new chief executive is due to come back to me shortly with a list of what she will do for Burnley by what date. I promise to fight to ensure these promises are, firstly, in line with what we want and, secondly, they are kept to so we can finally get the hospital services we deserve.

We must also fight hard to ensure our regeneration priorities are kept to, even in the face of difficult economic circumstances.

I am confident the building work required for the new Burnley College and university campus in Princess Way will be completed because it is directly funded by the Government.

A lot of work has also been done to make the case for better train links to Manchester and this is currently being considered by Network Rail and the Regional Development Agency.

The Weavers' Triangle project – and to a certain degree the Elevate work – is partially dependent on private sector developers ultimately wanting to invest, so is potentially more vulnerable to the current downturn in the housing market.

I discussed the matter this week with the chief executive of the council and we agreed it is important to stay close to the companies involved, to give them as much reassurance as possible in these uncertain times to keep the project on track.

In London, the House of Commons rose for the summer recess on Tuesday, so the last few days have been spent finishing off bits and pieces of Parliamentary business.

As a Government minister, I was invited on Tuesday to give evidence to the Treasury Select Committee, which consists of backbench MPs from all parties interested in economic issues, regarding our plans to reform the way banks are regulated.

We want to give the authorities more powers to resolve any future banking crises and also give greater confidence to consumers that their funds are safe.

This is one of the pieces of legislation I will be leading through Parliament in the autumn so it was useful to have a dry run of what the debate would be.