Urgent action needed to help local unemployed

Hinckley and Bosworth Liberal Democrats are calling on the government to take urgent action to help local jobless people get back to work. The call comes as figures show another big rise in local unemployment.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the Bosworth constituency now stands at 1,109. This is an increase of more than 10% compared to figures published last month which showed there were 989 unemployed people in Bosworth.

Michael Mullaney Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman for Bosworth said "In just one month we have seen the number of people jobless rise by 120. Over the past year the number of people unemployed in Bosworth has risen by well over a third.

"Sadly many local families Christmases will have been blighted by unemployment.

"The government must take urgent action to help people who have lost their jobs get back to work.

"Liberal Democrats are calling for the following measures to help jobless people find work

New 'First Steps' agency as a one-stop shop for all benefits claims and in order to identify the help needed to get people into work

Personalised help to suit jobseekers' individual needs

Increase the cost of work permits for foreign workers, and direct the money to fund more training for low skilled and unemployed workers already in Britain

Allow benefits to run on for two weeks after entering employment to support people back into work

Ensure that work pays for those on lower incomes by uprating the minimum wage each year in line with the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission, and extending the adult rate of he minimum wage to all those aged 16 and above.