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Last Friday morning I went along to the Salvation Army in Folkestone present certificates to some local people who have reached the appropriate standard in computer use and internet access.

They have attended courses run by Training Highway, a membership based learning and support system which operates throughout East Kent. It provides a variety of training opportunities and one of its interesting features is the extent to which it involves volunteers who are trained to a nationally accredited standard. These volunteers act as mentors providing grass roots support in the community to those who are being trained.

The event made me think of how essential mastery of the computer and access to the internet are to modern life. They are now almost as important as the ability to read and write. In fact I would say that this is one of the greatest changes to have taken place during my time as a Member of Parliament.

It was also confession time. Twelve years ago I was completely unable to operate a computer or gain access to the internet. This was because, as a Government Minister, I had people around me who did it all for me.

It has taken me a long time to learn and even now I would certainly not claim to have mastered either. But I can just about get by, even if I have to enlist Sandra’s help, when it comes to cut and paste.

Anyone who is interested in becoming a mentor in Training Highway’s scheme should contact Phil Birch on 01304 617174.

On Saturday evening I went along to the celebration of the 10th Anniversary of Christchurch Nursery School in Folkestone. This was a very happy occasion and an opportunity to pay tribute to Jill Harding, whose hard work and enterprise have made it all happen.

It is quite an achievement. When you think of the countless hours of enjoyment and interaction which have done so much to light up the lives of so many of our children you begin to realise how much we, as a society, are indebted to those who take risks, work hard and start enterprises of this kind.

It is this spirit of enterprise which is so vital to our prosperity.

Government can’t create it. But it can create conditions in which it can flourish or, alternatively, falter.

That will be one of the great challenges facing whichever Party forms the Government after next year’s election.