Government promises to support the unemployed

As new figures published by the Office for National Statistics today show that unemployment continues to rise, the Government has vowed to keep helping people into jobs.

The campaign, Backing Young Britain, is part of a wider £5 billion Government investment to help get people back to work, and includes a £1 billion investment in the Future Jobs Fund, which will provide funding for 150,000 jobs, and £40 million to fund a new mentoring network to help young people find their feet in a tough jobs market.

The Government statement points out that while the ILO count – the overall number of people who are unemployed and looking for work – has risen by 220,000 on the quarter to June 2009, this is less than the previous month.

The Department of Work and Pensions also published statistics today showing that numbers on inactive benefits, such as incapacity benefits and lone parent benefits, remain stable.

Work and Pensions Minister Angela Eagle said:

“The global recession is continuing to have an impact on families across the UK, but we believe the £5 billion of help we are investing is having an impact.”

“Young people have been heavily affected by the economic slowdown and we are determined to provide extra help and support so we don’t lose a generation to long-term unemployment. Last month we announced the first set of successful bids which will create 47,000 new jobs, and our Backing Young Britain campaign will bring business and Government together to create thousands of new opportunities for young people.”

But Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Steve Webb criticised the “rhetoric” of the plans:

“For many people who’ve never experienced unemployment before, Gordon Brown’s rhetoric about getting people back to work will feel like cold comfort.”

“The widening gap between the number of unemployed people and the number of people claiming benefits shows vulnerable people aren’t getting the help they need.”

“The Government needs to look urgently at the gaps in the safety net to make sure that people who are out of work are getting the support that they need to see them through this difficult period.”

“Unemployment assistance needs to be more personalised and JobCentre staff need to be given the resources necessary to help people get back on their feet quickly.”

“Young people should be getting intensive support as soon as they sign on instead of having to wait a year for a guarantee of a job or training place. With vacancies at a record low, it is vital that we prevent today’s school and university leavers from becoming a lost generation of long-term unemployed.”