The past month has seen a feast of political activities. In September, the referendum on Scottish independence achieved a pleasing result of 55 per cent voting against with 45 per cent in favour.

Promises were made during the campaign on which Parliament now must deliver.

That matter is already in hand, but there is a tight timetable to have draft legislation agreed to put to the next Parliament by March next year.

There are local implications. While the main focus is on devolving more powers to the Scottish Parliament and delivering greater autonomy for Scottish people, how can we ensure that entirely English matters are decided by those representing English constituencies?

The question also has to be asked that if the Scottish have more powers to raise taxes, is it not fairer that more money be spent for example on the NHS, schools and roads in our corner of Yorkshire?

I personally reject the argument for regionalisation, but prefer that the building blocks for decision-making in rural communities be the districts and county councils.

The work of the Local Enterprise Partnership in North and East Yorkshire and York demonstrates how effective that can be.

We have had two by-elections in early October in which UKIP has been a major beneficiary.

In an election where no decision on the next Government is being made, it is easy to hoover up the various votes of dissatisfaction.

Whether that element of dissatisfaction and disgruntlement is repeated in a General Election, time will tell.

What we have to watch is that the voice of rural communities is not lost in the devolution settlement with more powers passing possibly to City Regions.

What the Scottish referendum showed is that the Scots may be reserved, but passionate they most certainly are. We in England can learn a lot from the referendum campaign.

I was delighted to welcome the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Iain Duncan Smith, to the Old Lodge, Old Malton, for the second meeting of the Women’s Business Network.

Iain visited the Job Centre, in Norton, to congratulate the team on the best figures yet for placing people in work and reducing the number of people claiming Jobseeker Allowance.

That leaves more money to be spent, giving more help to the most vulnerable.