Mark with Lib Dem colleague Vince Cable

New figures reveal that in the North West, 78,660 people benefitted from an apprenticeship last year, an increase of 66%.

This news comes on the back of news last week that Stockport has achieved the highest number of new 16-18 Advanced and Higher Apprenticeships (307) in Greater Manchester in the last year.

This week, the Coalition Government has launched the National Apprenticeships Week, which will seek to build on last year's success with events in schools and businesses.

Commenting, Mark said:

"This dramatic growth in apprentices is welcome news for young people in the North West. Apprenticeships equip our young people with the skills needed to get jobs and build prosperous careers.

"In my own patch of Cheadle, there were 760 apprenticeships last year - a rise of 56% - fantastic news for youngsters in the area and for the future of our local economy.

"I also want to congratulate Stockport Council on last week's news that Stockport has had the highest number …

Tim spoke to the Post Office this morning who agreed that they will open the service for reduced hours. Subject to an applicant being successful in taking over the franchise, it will re-open fully in due course.

Tim held a series of phone calls yesterday with Post Office Ltd and several local businesses to try and find a solution to bring the service back to the village. The branch closed on 25 January 2012. With Hawkshead post office closed, the nearest branches are almost 5 miles away at Ambleside and Coniston with a limited bus service.

Tim has also been working closely with local councillor Colin Davies and Hawkshead Parish Council to make sure that they are kept informed of developments.

Tim said: "I'm delighted that yet another of our community campaigns has paid off! I want to thank the Parish Council and the community for their …

Running until 20 February and open to all 14-18 year olds, 'Chance to be Chancellor' challenges young people to make informed decisions about how UK's finances should be run. Young people are asked to give their views on taxation and spending policies, which will go on to be published in the Youth Budget 2012.

As well as offering up the chance to learn about the big issues ahead of the Budget 2012, the website offers the chance to win prizes and a trip to HM Treasury for those who take part.

Last year 'Chance to be Chancellor' engaged 3000 young people across the UK and the Citizenship Foundation want as many young people as possible to contribute to this year's publication. Further information is available online at www.chancetobechancellor.org.uk.

Commenting, Jo said:

"I would encourage all young people with an interest in politics …

The Physics Factory undertakes to improve the life chances of many young people in the city by giving them the opportunity to study for GCSE physics and more recently A level.

Unfortunately, April 2012 marks the end of their 3 year project funding and despite surpassing their ‘wildest expectations’ of performance measures; they are at a loss as who to approach for funding to continue.

It costs in the order of a mere £450 per day to run a Physics Factory centre.

There are 2 centres in Birmingham; one based at KE Five Ways school and the other at Sheldon Heath.  Students attend to receive some, most or all of their physics tuition and during other times of the year they run probably the best professional development for teachers.  Almost 3000 students have had at least one experience at the Physics Factory.

The education minister quoted the Physics Factory recently in the white paper The Importance of Teaching. 

Gisela said:

“Having visited the Physics Factory and seen the results, I …

It’s a great pleasure to be here, to host this event and to welcome this report.

I probably shouldn’t say this to an audience of finance and economic academics but –  I have been somewhat disappointed by the finance and economics communities recently

There are many incredibly intelligent people in finance and economics.

I know that because at Imperial College back in the 80s  the vast majority of my fellow engineering students went into finance, or accountancy or management consultancy.

When I took my MBA at Manchester Business School in the 90s I was very  impressed by the comprehensive literature on responsible capitalism as well as risk management.

I think that Black Scholes is possibly the most beautiful equation I have ever come across.

And when working for Ofcom I helped pioneer the use of real options in regulation.

So why I wondered, was it that after the biggest financial crisis the world has ever known, the most far reaching …

At a recent campaigns event in Parliament, Greater Manchester MP Mark Hunter joined with representatives from the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnerships, MIDAS, the New Economy, AGMA, pro.manchester and other MPs to discuss the case for having the Green Investment Bank based in Manchester.

The Coalition Government is creating the Green Investment Bank, the first of its kind in the world, which is designed to accelerate private sector investment into the UK's transition to a green economy.

The Government is providing the £3 billion initial capitalisation of the Bank and given it borrowing powers from 2015. The Bank will begin its operations in 2012, a year earlier than planned, and is anticipated to leverage an additional £15 billion from private sector investment in green projects. A decision, by the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, on where to locate the Bank is imminent.

The key …

Local MP Mark Hunter is urging eligible residents to claim their cold weather payments which have been made available due to the current cold weather across the area.

Yesterday, Monday 6th February 2012, there was a cold weather "alert" in the following postcodes - M22, SK12, SK2, SK3, SK7, SK8 - triggering cold weather payments to eligible recipients. The payments help people, particularly pensioners, who qualify because they receive certain income-related benefits, with their increased heating costs caused by periods of very cold weather during winter.

Commenting, Mark said:Although most people entitled to cold weather payments receive the support automatically, this is not always the case and Mark is urging local residents who think they may be eligible to get in touch, or go to www.direct.gov.uk for more information.

"It is vital that, whilst experiencing these freezing temperatures, those who need extra support get the help they deserve - particularly for elderly, disabled and housebound people.

"During the cold snap residents need to keep warm and this extra cash is …

The purpose of the visit was to show Trolex's commitment to the different industries both in the UK and internationally, and for Mark to see a successful local manufacturing and development company. Among the issues he discussed with Neil McDonald, International Sales Director, were the international presence of our products and the most effective way of getting them to their destination.

Mr Hunter took a tour of both the manufacturing and office facilities at Trolex, and was told of the important safety functions of Trolex's equipment. He was pleased to see a company which is growing and recruiting new employees within the current difficult economic climate.

Commeting, Mark said:

"I'm always keen to hear from local businesses based in the constituency and the visit to Trolex was very useful in helping to understand the challenges faced by the manufacturing industry at this difficult economic climate.

"Trolex are a significant local employer at the cutting …

For more information about the Diamond Jubilee click here…

Dickens was born on this day in 1812 and the anniversary has been marked with a series of events across the country, including a memorial service in Westminster Abbey.

Commenting, Theresa said: “I was very grateful to receiving a copy of Little Dorrit and I will look forward to reading it shortly. As we mark the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens’ birth, it is right to remember his cultural contribution to the country and to remind ourselves of Britain’s considerable literary heritage. I hope that this anniversary will particularly encourage younger people to pick up a classic novel as it is vital that these great …

The aim was to raise awareness amongst politicians of the significant number of preventable CO poisoning incidents that occur in the UK every year.

For more information, please visit www.gas-safety-trust.org.uk.

…

Andrew Percy, MP for Brigg and Goole, visited the Goole Branch of Hull & East Yorkshire Credit Union (HEYCU) in Pasture Road recently to meet with the staff and learn more about the work of this expanding social enterprise.

HEYCU was founded in 1999 as a "not for profit" co-operative enterprise to help the people of Hull and East Yorkshire to manage their money wisely by providing a safe haven for their savings, a source of affordable credit and user-friendly bank accounts.

Opening in Goole in 2009, it now serves over 200 local families, with more members joining every week.   Across East Yorkshire it has around 9,000 adult members and 750 junior savers and looks after more than £5 million in members' savings.  Its low-cost loans provide a more affordable alternative to those of doorstep lenders and High Street credit shops, as credit unions are the only lenders with a legal interest rate cap – of 2% per month on the reducing balance of the loan.

 …

The Government has given Great Yarmouth Borough Council a welcome £1/2 million boost, as part of the New Homes Bonus.

The New Homes Bonus is a multi-billion pound programme that rewards communities when they accept more housebuilding in their area, with extra reward for building new affordable homes, and for getting long-term empty homes back into use.

This is just one of the policies the Government has introduced to help resolve the current housing crisis. These changes include:

Labour led Britain into a housing crisis – the number of affordable homes fell, waiting lists almost doubled and first-time buyer numbers collapsed to their lowest level for a generation. Housebuilding is already up a quarter under the Coalition Government, but there is more to do. This …