Unemployment in the constituency

Figures recently released by the Office for National Statistics for July 2010 show that the Henley constituency has seen a drop of 245 in the number of unemployed claimants since July 2009. The total number of unemployed claimants stood at 749 in July 2010. This represents a rate of 1.6% of the economically active population. This ranks the constituency as 643 out of 650 in the UK for the lowest rate of unemployment.

I of course welcome the news that there has been a drop over the past year in unemployment and that the constituency has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. I congratulate all those local businesses which have helped keep unemployment low in what are still very difficult times. As these figures are based on claimants it is likely that the real rate is somewhat higher. We should not be complacent or fail to recognise the impact of unemployment on those who are jobless and their families.

Let us not forget too that under Labour over the period from July 2005 to July 2010 unemployment in this constituency has gone up by nearly 97%. What is more there has been a worrying increase in the long term unemployed (unemployed for 12 months or more) which has risen by 65 in the past year. Whilst the number of young people (aged 24 and under) has fallen by 60 over the year from July 2009, the number is still 170% what it was in July 2005.

The Government's work programme will move towards a single scheme offering targeted, personalised help for those who need it most, sooner rather than later. Claimants facing the most significant barriers to work should be referred to the newly created welfare to work programme immediately, not after twelve months as is the currently the case. A greater level of personalised support means more people moving into and, crucially, staying in work and to make sure we get the best value for money, we will also be changing the framework to increase the role of the third sector and the private sector, and reward providers based on results. At the same time, we will also make sure the system is fair by ensuring that receipt of benefits for those able to work is conditional on their willingness to work.

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