I started the day with interviews with Sky News, BBC News 24 and ITN. As Financial Secretary to the Treasury I discussed the profit made by the Royal Bank of Scotland and what the government expected of the current economic crisis.

After the interviews I went to meet Bill Williams who is the Chief Executive of CEME (Centre for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence) in Dagenham. CEME offers many opportunities to develop skills in engineering and manufacturing, working with local companies.  I was shown around their spectacular building and enjoyed my tour.

From there, I visited First Line in Canning Town, a social enterprise which gives people with a learning disability in Newham a chance to obtain a job. During my visit – in which I was joined by Christine Bowden, Deputy Mayor of Newham – I met with people who First Line helped, and heard that First Line was doing a fantastic job. I was given a tour of the building and met all the staff.

I then travelled to the Asian Friendship Centre, in Katherine Road, and met the director of Starfish Asia, a charity which provides schools in Pakistan for Christian children who live in poverty, who asked me for assistance in making contact with the Government’s Department for International Development.  I was also brought up to date on Afghan Action, a carpet making enterprise which has created jobs for unemployed workers in Afghanistan.

After leaving the Asian Friendship Centre I met with the Indian Muslim Federation. We discussed the prospects for the next general election. After a very interesting day, I finished with a surgery for my constituents at the Beckton Globe.