Time to give thanks for hard work

Doctors, nurses and health care workers are carrying out 400,000 more operations each year leading to fewer people waiting 18, 26 and 52 weeks for treatment. MRSA and C Difficile infections have also been greatly reduced.

Our teachers continue to give every single child the opportunity to make the most of their talents, wherever they are from.

Our police officers have cut crime by over 10% throughout England and Bedfordshire.

Our Central Bedfordshire councillors and council officers have frozen council tax for three years, which is a 10% fall in real terms.

I started by thanking all those who had helped our economy grow. Locally that includes firms like the Gti Corporation in Houghton Regis who continue to create new jobs. I am also incredibly proud that my constituency is home to Whitbreads in Houghton Regis, the owners of Costa Coffee and Premier Inns, among other brands. Recently Whitbreads announced that they will be creating 12,000 new jobs over the next five years which is fantastic news.

Last week I visited Central Bedfordshire College for a graduation ceremony for unemployed people who had completed a skills course guaranteeing them an interview with a hospitality sector employer.

I am especially pleased at the increasing numbers of apprenticeships that are being offered. 100,000 new premises are being connected to superfast Broadband every week and this will increase in Central Bedfordshire over the next few months.