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Stephen McPartland MP has welcomed the record-breaking figures published by the Office of National Statistics which show there are more people in work than ever before.

Stephen McPartland, Member of Parliament for Stevenage said, "It is particularly good to see youth unemployment dropping below 5% for the first time in history. General unemployment has also fallen to the lowest rate for over 40 years. More and more people are working full-time and in Stevenage the number of people on out-of-work benefits is 59% lower than in 2010. This is a massive boost for local families and really shows we have led the economic recovery locally, after Labour crashed the economy."

The ONS figures show over 3 million more people in employment since the Conservative Government was elected in 2010.

The employment rate for women is also at a record high of 70.8%, with over 15.1 million women in work. Additionally, the number of workers aged 50+ has reached a record 9.94 million, as people enjoy the benefits of living longer through healthier lifestyles and a world class NHS.

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Thoughts are with all those affected by Parsons Green attack. Terrorism is evil and targets innocent people. We must never let them win.

— Stephen McPartland (@SMcPartland) September 15, 2017

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Finally, a step in the right direction. The 1% pay cap is ending, but much more to do to help families and build a fairer society.

— Stephen McPartland (@SMcPartland) September 12, 2017

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Hurricane Irma is bringing hazardous sea and weather conditions to many parts of the Caribbean, primarily affecting Anguilla, Turks and Caicos, St Maarten, Antigua & Barbuda, Montserrat, the British Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic so far, moving to Cuba and Florida. The devastation in the British Virgin Islands has been particularly severe. Immediately following Hurricane Irma is Hurricane Jose, which on the current trajectory is likely to hit the same areas.

If you have particular concerns about your relatives or friends, for example specific medical needs or if they are otherwise vulnerable, please call the Foreign & Commonwealth Office hotline on 020 7008 0000 and provide the details to our crisis handling team.

Stephen McPartland, Member of Parliament for Stevenage, said, "Our thoughts are with all those affected by Hurrican Irma. On a practical level the Government is providing direct support with the naval ship RFA Mounts Bay moved from Anguilla to the British Virgin Islands overnight to distribute humanitarian aid there. A £32 million aid package is now available and additional Foreign Office and Department for International Trade specialists and UK troops are going to the area already."

British nationals in areas that may be affected have been advised to follow the advice of the local authorities, including any evacuation orders, and the advice of their tour operator.  They should continue to check our travel advice pages on gov.uk, which, where relevant, links to local sources of advice and information on action to take in response to Hurricane Irma.

Stephen McPartland MP welcomes £3.5 million investment and encourages local groups to apply for more grants, to explore the legacy of the First World War, from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Stephen McPartland MP, said, "Stevenage's heritage has benefited from over £3.5 million of National Lottery investment.

"Recently a grant was given for a project "Who is Gordon Craig?", who was crucial to the development of modern theatre. Our own, fantastic Gordon Craig Theatre now has a permanent exhibit in the foyer as part of that project. Sadly, Stevenage Borough Council plans to demolish the Theatre in their latest local plan, which is opposed by myself and the local community.

"I am delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund is making money available to help communities explore the impact and legacy of the First World War beyond 1918. The grants available of £3,000 to £10,000 can help the wealth of local stories to be discovered, whether looking at the role the war played in bringing about universal suffrage; the introduction of daylight saving; or the mechanisation of agriculture."

The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded more than 32 grants to heritage projects in our area, from exploring local archaeology and restoring local parks and buildings to protecting wildlife and researching local history, amounting to £3,595,471 million since 1994.

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Great time at Stevenage DogWatch Carnival. Come down and join the fun at Town Centre Gardens. pic.twitter.com/CErSf62V01

— Stephen McPartland (@SMcPartland) August 27, 2017

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Love supporting the work of @guidedogs Stevenage Branch looking for volunteers. Pop down and say hello in the Westgate Centre pic.twitter.com/mTbwg5zod3

— Stephen McPartland (@SMcPartland) August 18, 2017

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Stephen McPartland, Member of Parliament for Stevenage, commented on this year's A-level exam results and the achievements of local students.

Stephen said,  "Congratulations to all our local students who should be proud of their achievements. Make sure you enjoy a few more weeks of summer and look forward to an exciting future full of opportunity."

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