Scheme is 'not working' says Conservative spokesperson

Figures released this week show 1400 people in the Brentford & Isleworth constituency have been helped into work by the New Deal.

MP Ann Keen said, "The New Deal has made a huge difference in the constituency. 1400 people have got off benefits and started work thanks to the New Deal.

"Before 1997, high unemployment was the norm in the UK and in London. Unemployment toppled 3 million, long-term youth unemployment hit 300,000 and the numbers on incapacity benefit trebled under the Tories.

"Across the country, more people are employed than ever before, with 2 million more people in work than in 1997. In Brentford & Isleworth alone the New Deal has helped to get 1400 people into work.We have clearly made progress on jobs and are determined to go much further to make sure everyone has the opportunity to learn new skills, gain qualifications and work."

Responding to Labour claims that the "New Deal" programme for the unemployed was a success, Alexander Northcote, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Brentford & Isleworth said, "Whatever Labour claim, the New Deal is not working. This is more talk from a failing Government. Statistics released last month show that just 37 per cent of people leaving the 'New Deal for Young People' and 23 per cent of people leaving the New Deal for over-25s have found sustained jobs.

"The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics show that 1.11 million people aged under 25 who are neither working nor in full-time education, which represents an increase of 28,000 since May 1997. In addition there are there are 7.86 million economically inactive people of working age, which is up by 310,000 since May 1997.

"These figures show how wrong ministers are to defend their bureaucratic employment programmes. There are now more young people who are neither working nor studying nor training than there were before the New Deal was introduced."

January 27, 2005