I received some really good feedback about my last column.  It would appear that my readers want some more good news so today I am going to write about a little heralded bill included in the Queen's Speech - The Financial Services Bill. 

This bill is going to give us more protection as consumers, to help us avoid getting into unmanageable debt and give us more advice about how to juggle our finances.

Regular readers will recall me bemoaning the numbers of letters I receive each year offering me money to fund that new kitchen or holiday.  So I am really pleased to see that the Financial Services Bill bans banks and finance companies from sending out unasked for credit card cheques.  Given the state of my kitchen, I really do know how tempting those cheques can be.

The Chancellor has also published his plans for reform of the banking sector in this country, to ensure that the Government will never again have to rescue people from the irresponsibility of their banks.

I believe it was right for the Government to step in and ensure that our banking system did not fail - if the banks had collapsed the consequences would have been disastrous. Just imagine what could have happened if the banks started to close their doors, refusing to give customers any money, refusing to honour cheques written. The whole financial system could have collapsed, risking tens of thousands of jobs and homes.

For me, the absolute best bit of news around all of the big financial decisions of recent weeks was the Prime Minister’s support for a global tax on international currency speculation.  The money raised would create a fund to provide bail-out money for banks, if needed in the future.  Speculators would be paying for their own folly.  As much as £360bn could be raised and could also fund global action against climate change.  Serious money!

This tax will require global agreement.  The Prime Minister put his proposals to the G20 Finance Ministers meeting in St Andrews in November.  Given that the PM is steadfastly resolute and influential in international financial matters, I have every hope that we will one day see the global finance industry paying to protect all of us against their excessive risk taking.

One of the factors that contributed to banking problems was a bonus culture that rewarded executives for short term and unsustainable profit. All banks we have bailed out will not pay any cash bonuses this year to staff earning over £39,000.  So those at the top of the management structure will not be rewarded for their failures.

The other bit of good news is that additional money is to be made available to businesses.  I know from meetings with the Newham Chamber of Commerce, and other small businesses that they are struggling to get commercial finance.

In response, Alistair Darling has ensured that RBS and Lloyds Banks will make £39 billion in extra commercial finance available to small and medium sized businesses in the new financial year.

The Government are working hard to manage the fallout from the financial crisis and to make sure that our banks can never again take such enormous risks with our money.  That’s another precious piece of good news in these difficult times.

If you have any comments on this column, write to me at Lyn Brown MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA or e-mail me at brownl@parliament.uk