LATEST statistics showing a fall in those claiming unemployment benefits in south Shropshire have been welcomed by Philip Dunne MP. Figures for April from the independent Office for National Statistics show that the claimant count in south Shropshire fell by 55, to 2,175 claimants, or 4.5 per cent of the population aged 16-64. This compares with 6.3 per cent nationally. This falls is good news and says that the local economy is starting to recover according to Ludlow MP Philip Dunne. “It is great news that, for the second month in a row, unemployment has fallen in south Shropshire, giving more people the security that comes from a regular pay-packet,” said Mr Dunne.