Ian Swales

Ian Swales, MP for Redcar, has returned from a very successful trade mission to India where he led a delegation of chemical industry specialists from Teesside and representatives from three of the North Easts' Universities.

India has had an explosion of growth in the chemical industry in the last 10 years, which makes it a great place to build relationships with for both import and export trade. The UK is still the 5^th largest manufacturer of chemicals in Europe, but to maintain or improve on this position, trade outside of the EU is essential.

Following what has been a very cold few days, the Department for Work and Pensions has automatically released additional support for thousands of local recipients in Redcar. Local MP Ian Swales is urging people to check they have received the support they are eligible for.

Cold Weather Payments are made to eligible benefit claimants who live in postcode districts linked to Met Office weather stations which have recorded or forecast periods of severe cold weather (0°C or below) lasting for seven consecutive days. Ian was told today that the weather stations covering TS6, TS7, TS10 and TS11are now eligible for the funding.

Ian Swales, the MP for Redcar, is urging residents to sign up to free home energy checks. The service ends at the end of March, and it is designed to help people stay warm and cut their fuel bills.

Redcar and Cleveland Council have teamed up with Tadea to offer these checks, which will see energy efficiency experts visit your home to offer this advice. There are three main groups eligible to qualify for a free energy home check: residents over 60 years old; those with a disability or long term health condition, and those with a child under 4 living in the house.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has closed the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference in Brighton by calling on members to spread the message of the Party's commitment in Government to deliver a stronger economy and a fairer society.

In his keynote Leader's speech, Nick paid tribute to the work of the Party in winning the Eastleigh by-election, beating the Conservatives into third place and squeezing Labour while campaigning on the Lib Dem record of delivering in Government.

World Book Day has been running across the UK and Ireland since 1995 and every year, thousands of children dress up as their favourite character for the day. It inspires parents, teachers and children to remember their favourite book and to talk about it with their family and friends.

This year there is an online festival, hosted by Tony Robinson called The Biggest Book Show on Earth. This is the second year running there has been an online festival, and with digital technology making books available on lots of different devices, it opens up world book day to new audiences.

Ian delighted that Arctic Medal is finally on its way

Veterans of the Second World War Arctic Convoy will begin receiving their medals in the next few weeks. Anyone who served on the Arctic Convoy or their widows should soon be receiving their medal to celebrate and recognise their extraordinary heroism and bravery.

Today in Parliament Redcar MP Ian Swales raised the closure of Stockton Insolvency Office with the Prime Minister. In the light of the closure of the office announced yesterday, Ian referred to other public agency jobs which have been lost on Teesside in the last few years. He called on the Prime Minister to look at the situation and to consider moving other civil service jobs to the area.

£77,000 will help Year 7 pupils in Redcar & Cleveland who didn't reach the expected level in literacy and maths when they finished primary school catch up with their classmates who did.

Schools will today (Thursday) receive £500 per pupil who didn't reach the expected level to help them through catch-up classes and individual tuition.

Yesterday in Parliament local MP Ian Swales launched an attack on the previous Labour Government's record on benefits.

Asking a question to Secretary of State for Work & Pensions Ian Duncan Smith, Ian used the case of a constituent to illustrate the absurdity of the system. Making the point that, due to working a few extra hours before Christmas his constituent now faced losing a month's worth of income support and carer's benefits, Ian accused the last Labour Government of leaving the system in a mess.

The Coalition Government scheme that has already created or safeguarded more than 72,000 jobs in the North East opens a new round of bids today, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg has announced.

Round four of the Regional Growth Fund will be worth £350m of investment to create jobs and growth across England.