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Wednesday 13 June 2007

Hilary hails 54% decline in unemployment over 10 years

North West Durham MP Hilary Armstrong has hailed a huge drop in unemployment over the last ten years. New figures just published by the Department of Work and Pensions show that the claimant count for North West Durham dropped 54% between 1997 and 2007.

In 1997 over 2,500 people were signed up to Jobseekers Allowance compared to 1200 people in 2007.

Hilary Armstrong MP said

”These figures show the real progress that has been made in getting people back to work in North West Durham. A fall of over 50% is very significant. We were once an unemployment blackspot and now were at the national average. Now we need to go further and tackle some of the barriers that are stopping those who are still out of work from returning to employment.”

Jim Murphy MP, Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform said:

"Since 1997 the numbers on Jobseeker’s Allowance, incapacity and lone parents benefits have fallen by over 900,000 and they continue to fall. Today’s figures show that the number on Jobseeker’s Allowance has now fallen for 10 out of the last 11 months.

“Our welfare reforms, combined with a strong economy, are helping more people to come off benefits and look for work - but we are determined to go further still, and to break for good the cycle of poverty and dependency.

“We can be proud of our record on helping people back to work over the last ten years. We know there is much more to do - but while Labour is prepared to listen and learn to meet the challenges ahead, the Conservatives are showing they have learnt nothing in the last ten years.”

ENDS

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