'New unemployment figures for August 2011 released week beginning 12 September are disappointing', says David Ruffley MP.

'The latest unemployment figures for Bury St Edmunds have shown an increase of 53 unemployed people compared to the previous month. Across the UK, the number of people aged 18 or over claiming Jobseekers Allowance increased by 20,300 between July and August 2011 to 1.58 million people.

The number of unemployed in the Bury St Edmunds constituency is now listed at 1,527 representing an unemployment rate of 2.8% of the economically active population aged 16 to 64. This makes Bury St Edmunds still in the lower quartile of unemployment figures compared to other constituencies across the UK. But that will be no comfort to locally unemployed people

We must help small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) create jobs by reducing bureaucracy and simplifying employment law. A Government undertaking to reform employment law is underway, but it doesn't help unemployment rates at the moment.

The news that Suffolk will be prioritised in upgrading its superfast broadband is excellent news in the current climate. Having a reliable, superfast service will bring businesses to Suffolk rather than relocate to other areas that have a faster internet service.'