news story

13th August 2009

MP Calls for Action over Trebling of Unemployment in Northavon

Northavon MP Steve Webb has called for urgent Government action to tackle the spiralling level of unemployment in his Northavon constituency.

Figures released this week by the Office for National Statistics show that the number of people out of work and claiming benefit in Northavon has more than trebled in the last year, from 431 people in July 2008 to 1,368 in July 2009.

In addition, it is estimated that there may be around a further 600 people who are also now looking for work but who do not qualify for benefit. Although unemployment in the constituency is still well below the national average, the rate of increase is very rapid.

Local MP Steve Webb, who speaks on work and pension issues in the House of Commons, is urging the Government to do more to help areas such as South Gloucestershire where unemployment is rising rapidly.

Steve Webb said:

"It is a source of great concern that unemployment levels are rising rapidly in our area. There is a danger that the Government concentrates all of its attention on traditional unemployment 'blackspots' and neglects areas such as ours which have had low unemployment in the past but are now being hard hit by the Recession.

"I am urging the Government to ensure that local JobCentres have more resources to assist those who are unemployed. We also need to make sure that the banks lend money to the many viable local businesses who are struggling to raise finance".

The MP added that he regularly visited local employers and was keen to hear from other firms who were being hit by the Recession in order to relay their concerns to ministers.