PMQs

IT is not easy to 'get in' on Prime Minister's Questions.

The half hour joust between the PM, the leader of the opposition and anyone else who is lucky enough to 'catch the Speaker's eye' (by bobbing up and down like a kangaroo with piles) are busy affairs.

Anyhow, last week I hit it lucky and managed to raise the issue of unemployment, pointing out that in our constituency it has fallen by a quarter in the last 12 months.

I pressed the PM to stick to our long-term economic plan because I firmly believe it's working.

The fact that we now have more people in work than at any time in our history, that the last quarterly drop in unemployment was the greatest in 17 years, that our unemployment rate is 7.1% compared with 10.8% in France — all point to success.

But what is far more important than the dry statistics is what this jobs data means to local people.

A job means increased financial security for workers and families.

It means peace of mind. It also means a greater confidence to spend which in turn leads to better business performance and . . . well, more jobs.

We are in this positive cycle now with unemployment falling far faster than most commentators expected.

I am especially proud of the success of businesses in our part of Devon. Keeping going can be tough and most of our local companies are small — more than 95% of those in Central Devon have 10 or fewer employees —but collectively they add up to a lot of jobs.

If you are running a local company and would like me to visit please let me know via http://www.melstridemp.com">www.melstridemp.com

I am keen to hear from you and will press your concerns at the highest possible level.