MP Steve Barclay has hailed new figures which show the number of people claiming Job Seekers Allowance in his NE Cambridgeshire constituency has fallen by almost two thirds.

According to statistics from the independent House of Commons Library, since 2010 the number of claimants in NE Cambs has fallen by more than 61 per cent, in excess of the national average.

Youth employment has fallen even faster, with a decrease of 65 per cent.

In May 2010 there were 2,376 constituents claiming Job Seekers Allowance or Out-of-work Universal Credit. As of January 2015, there were 915 claimants.

Mr Barclay said: “There is still more work to do but this shows that progress is being made and reinforces why we need to continue the Government’s long term economic plan.

“Building on these foundations, we now have the certainty of £22 million from Government for the Ely southern by-pass. We also have £34 million of funding confirmed and ready to go for the long awaited new Littleport secondary school, primary school, special needs school and leisure centre, provided we can agree the last few issues with the parish council over the next seven weeks.

“These facilities will then open in September 2017 ready for the new school year. That is the same year that the Kings Lynn to London rail line, stopping at Littleport, will go from an hourly to a half hourly service, with Littleport a key beneficiary.”