More Needs To Be Done To Tackle Rising Unemployment In North Durham

I have spoken to so many people across the constituency who have been affected by the devastation of unemployment. So many people have told me that they feel not enough is being done to help them back into work. That is why we need real action top help create jobs and to cut unemployment.

Figures released this morning show that unemployment is up by 80,000 nationwide to 2.47 million. In North Durham, the unemployment rate has increased to 4.9% - well above the national average of 4.2%. In North Durham, 2,533 people are now claiming Job Seeker's allowance - an increase of almost 68% since September 2008.

There are some shocking figures as well about youth unemployment in the constituency. There are 850 claimants aged between 18 and 24 - a percentage of 33.6% that is well above the regional and national average.

I have made clear many times that I believe that unemployment is the worst of all economic problems. It has terrible effects on families, communities and, of course, the individuals involved. That is why tackling unemployment must be a real national priority and I will treat it as an absolute priority if elected as MP for North Durham.

I am calling for real action to tackle unemployment, including:

• The creation of a hundreds of thousands of new training places and apprenticeships;
• Provision of specialised careers guidance and support for people who are out of work;
• The provision of tax breaks and incentives for business to create jobs;
• A proper National Loan Guarantee Scheme to help get credit flowing and create jobs;
• Support for people who want to start their own business.

We need to act and act quickly to tackle unemployment in the area.