THERE has been a little respite for those affected by the flooding in the past few days, allowing other issues to rise up the political agenda.

The economic good news has continued to come thick and fast and almost every indicator is showing that the Government’s long-term economic plan is beginning to take root. Inflation is now 1.9%, so things like household costs should start falling, particularly as wages rise. Unemployment has fallen another 125,000, with a million full time jobs created since the election. Youth unemployment is also dropping. The claimant count is now down 310,000 since the election.

Aside from the statistics, it means more families have a full time wage and the security that brings. It has been tough to get to this stage, but it is very important we finish the job and secure the economy for the long term benefit. The job is less than half complete, there are still many things that could go wrong, that’s why we need to continue making tough decisions.

Some of these have involved welfare. This week’s criticism of our reforms by the Archbishop of Westminster also acknowledged the need to make changes. It is a good thing he is engaged in this important debate.

The challenge we face as a country is that too many people were trapped into a life of dependency and benefits by the last Government with a welfare system which, in many cases, paid more to be on benefits than in work. Trapping people on welfare wastes their talent, destroys their confidence and consigns people to a life that is not as fulfilling as it should be.

The results of our reforms are already positive, with the number of workless households coming down so that 250,000 more children in our country have a role model who gets up in the morning, goes to work and provides for them; and since the election 1.3 million more people have the security of a regular pay packet. This is building a country where people can get on, stand on their own two feet and build a better life for themselves and their family.