MPs have returned to London and face a full programme of Bills and committee work.

One of my main concerns, because of the numbers of people who come to see me about it, is the Child Support Agency.

I learnt in Work and Pensions Questions on Monday that the thorough review of the agency by its new chief executive is due to be completed soon and the Secretary of State then intends to make a statement to the house about it.

Hopefully, this will address the problems of inefficiency, appalling computer failures and the lack of teeth that the agency has when trying to extract money for child maintenance from some unwilling parents.

I have now held several combined surgeries with constituents and officials from the CSA and these officials have made suggestions to me which I shall raise at a meeting I have requested with the minister in charge of the CSA next week.

I have had many letters about the Animal Welfare Bill and this had its second reading on Tuesday.

I am glad to say that the second reading was passed without any dissent and so no division was called. It will now to go a standing committee where amendments can be made.

There is some concern about circus animals and I plan to go to a meeting about this important aspect of animal welfare next week.

The Health Bill which includes the question of the partial or total ban on smoking in public places is due for its further debate later this month.

The Health Committee report calling for a comprehensive ban was published just before Christmas and it has just been announced thart the Government will give its members a free vote on the crucial amendment put in by members of the Health Committee.

A total ban has been described to me by cancer experts and others as the single most important public health measure in the prevention of cancer that the Government could take.

I find it extraordinary that anybody can oppose a total ban of proven benefit to health which coincidentally would save the health service so much money and which is working well in other countries, particularly Eire, where it has been welcomed by a huge majority including about 80 per cent of smokers.

The Health Committee report on the Government's changes to Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) was published yesterday and it is so strong in condemning this latest proposed reform of the NHS that it gives those of us like me, who have so far accepted the necessity for change in the organisation of PCTs, real ammunition to re-think our responses now that formal consultation has commenced.

If we do lose our own PCT can we be sure that the vital local focus on our health services will remain?