Stevenage MP Stephen McPartland recently launched the UK leg of the GALILEO Master competition in Parliament and once again declared Stevenage as the capital of the UK space industry.

Stephen launched the campaign as vice-chair of the Parliamentary Space Committee and was joined by Ed Vaisey MP, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries as well as leaders from industry and academia involved in the UK Space Industry.

Stephen said, “The UK space sector is growing at 10% a year, making it one of Britain's most successful high value and innovative sectors. Stevenage is leading the way in the UK space industry and is home of Astrium which recently won the £244 million contract from the European Space Agency for the next generation Solar Orbiter.  Stevenage has an array of other companies involved in this high technology such as Tessella, who second scientists all over the world.  I am proud to launch the UK leg of the satellite navigation competition as it will encourage innovation and create more jobs, many of which will be in Stevenage – the capital of the UK Space Industry.”

The GALILEO Master is the overall winner of the Europe-wide satellite navigation competition which is open to anyone with an idea that utilises satellite navigation, positioning or timing technology.  The aim of the competition is to encourage innovation and the application of new ideas.  Prizes include thousands of pounds of cash, business support and introductions to wider industry and funding opportunities.

MPs and celebrities are backing the need for research trials on GM Crops.  Author and comedian Stephen Fry is amongst around 4,000 people who have signed an online petition by the charity "Sense About Science" which is not campaigning for or against GM Crops but to allow the trials rather than have the crops destroyed by protestors.

Stephen McPartland, MP for Stevenage, says he hopes a planned public debate will put an end to the row, "There is a huge worldwide shortage of food and there does need to be a debate. These scientists are prepared to share the data, so that it is publicly available. If their work is damaged it will fall into the hands of the large commercial companies, who won't end up sharing it because of commercial intelligence."

A blind football tournament hosted by Stevenage Football Club at the club’s Academy brought together a range of teams fielded by local businesses as well as the football club and Supporters Association to raise awareness of the challenges faced by blind people. The event also raised over £7,500 for the community scheme run by the club, with contributions from local firms matched pound for pound by Barclays Bank.

Stephen McPartland, MP for Stevenage, joined the teams and other spectators, and presented the winning team from Wagstaffs with their award after a close final against the Supporters Association team.

A team of Stevenage students who set up their own business are set for a visit to The House of Commons after being named North Hertfordshire’s Company of the Year in a Young Enterprise competition. The students from Nobel School received the invitation from Stevenage MP Stephen McPartland, after impressing him with their business skills at the North Hertfordshire Young Enterprise Area Finals at North Hertfordshire College.

Stephen enjoyed the opportunity to meet all the students and hearing about the business skills they had developed through the programme. He delighted the winning students from ‘Brainwave’ with an invitation to have tea with him at the House of Commons.

Stephen commented, "I was very impressed with all the students and high quality companies they had developed. The enthusiasm, ideas and energy of the students was amazing and it was clear that some of our future local business leaders had taken part in the competition. It was a fantastic event and I look forward to welcoming the winners to Parliament."