LAST Friday I visited the offices of the British Institute of Learning Disabilities who have now been in the refurbished ground floor of Campion House, Green Street, for nearly four years.

I was unable to attend their Open Day which had been a great success and they told me that this office was the hub of a nationwide network spreading information among carers for the benefit of those with learning difficulties.

I was shown round and introduced to staff by Kate Brackley and Teresa Mayne, their two receptionists who now work for the institute that has helped them so much.

I was particularly struck by a series of paintings by Kevin Chettle giving the story of his experiences as a child with learning difficulties passing through a series of prison-like institutions until his eventual, magical liberation into the community.

One particularly striking picture was entitled The Experts of the Case Conference. In this he depicted himself saying: "I was outside while they planned my life and future".

Consideration and care for those with learning difficulties has come a long way since those days and it was the late Professor Gerry Simon who founded the institute and instigated the modernisation of care at Lea Castle that subsequently spread throughout the country.

I was delighted to present a generous donation of coaching kit and equipment to the Franche Boys U15 Football Club on behalf of Barclays Bank, Football Foundation and Groundwork.

This was part of a £30m grassroots sports programme to encourage sport in the community.

The kit was welcomed by all involved as it will do so much to improve their skills but also the image of the team at matches.

I was impressed with the fitness and obvious health of all the team members.

Charity Gardens Open Days in Alveley coincided with the Kidderminster Horticultural Society Open Gardens Day in aid of the Scout Hut at Rhydd Covert.

The gardens that impressed me most were those that are not necessarily large or convenient but which by sheer hard work and inspirational design and planting have become oases of beauty, with hidden secrets, in urban areas.

In London I am increasingly depressed by the determination of the Government to go full speed ahead with so many reforms that are untested and that members of the professions and patients' organisations fear could have a serious effect on the NHS in the future.

The second reading of the Identity Cards Bill produced a moderate rebellion among Labour back benchers reducing the Government majority from 66 to 31.

One of the Labour rebels told me that they were not all going to vote against the Government on this occasion but save their main ammunition for later.

Few of them actually want to bring the Government down but they aim to use their power to obtain modifications to this and other controversial Bills in the future.