I was delighted, but not surprised, to read that Swindon has been named as one of the best places in the country to look for jobs, with 17 vacancies for every job seeker.

Over the last year, there have been more job vacancies than ever before - with 832,000 job vacancies in the last three months alone. In fact, since 2010, the UK has created more jobs than France, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden and Norway combined. This really is a fantastic achievement as there are more opportunities for people to get on and support themselves and their families with a regular pay packet.

The unemployment rate remains at a record low of 4% with more people in work than ever before. This has boosted tax revenues which helps to maintain our continued increases in funding for the NHS and our education system.

Whilst most people welcome the fact that there are more people in work and more jobs available, many still try to mislead and suggest that the high employment rate is down to predominantly part-time work and zero hour contracts. This could not be further from the truth. In the last year there are 388,000 more people in full time employment and 48,000 fewer people in part-time work – meaning the annual increase in the total number of people in work was due entirely to there being more people in full-time employment. The number of people on zero hour contracts also remains low, accounting for just 2.4% of the entire UK work force.

Youth unemployment is at its lowest level since records began and has fallen by a staggering 50% since 2010. There have also been 3.4 million apprentices created since 2010. This is great news as we continue to provide more opportunities for young people, regardless of whether they leave school at 16 or go on to university.

And it’s not just the number of jobs that is increasing – wages are too. In fact wages have seen their biggest increase in nearly a decade as they rise above inflation.

In other news, Swindon is set to receive more than three quarters of a million pounds towards adult social care this winter. The investment is set to help councils alleviate winter pressures on the NHS, by ensuring that patients can return home as soon as they are able to, but also making sure the support they require on returning home is also in place.

Since February last year there has been a 39% reduction in Delayed Transfers of Care (when a patient is ready to leave a hospital or similar care provider but is still occupying a bed) across the country. This is good news as relations between the health and care systems continue to strengthen. This extra investment will look to build on this and ensure that patients have the support they need back at home, therefore avoiding an unnecessary long hospital stay.

Winter is the busiest time of year for the NHS and managing the increased pressure will require a joined up approach between the Council’s social care teams and local NHS provision. I’m glad that the Government is providing the funding to ensure that the relationship between the two is strong and efficient.

Finally I’d like to say a huge thank you for all of the kind messages that Katie and I have received following our wedding on Saturday. It was a fantastic day spent with close family and friends, and not even the rain could dampen our spirits!