Last week’s Veterans Day celebrations allowed us the opportunity to reflect on the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. For their sacrifice, we are extremely grateful. Last year marked the very first Veterans Day and proved so successful that it will be celebrated on 27 June each year. It offers a special opportunity to thank our veterans for the contribution they have made to life in this country and this year over 250 events will be held across the UK in recognition of their service in the armed forces.

Today I welcomed news that more than one million people stand to benefit from an initiative to place hundreds of free cash machines in low-income areas throughout the UK.

Stephen Hepburn MP for the Jarrow Constituency today pledged his support to national Veterans Day which celebrates the contribution of those who served in the Armed Forces.

Stephen Hepburn MP for the Jarrow Constituency today welcomed news that South Tyneside Council has been selected to take forward a government initiative aimed at improving children’s rate of progress at school.

South Tyneside Council is one of 10 local authorities that have been announced by the Department for Education and Skills which will take part in the Making Good Progress program to improve the progress children make year by year. The pilot will involve pupils in 23 Primary and Secondary Schools in Jarrow, Hebburn, Boldon, South Shields and Whitburn and will run between September 2007 and July 2009.