North East Herts MP Oliver Heald this week welcomed new Conservative proposals to get people working inNorth East Hertfordshireand to tackle the growing burden of government debt.
· This comes as Government figures showed that in September 2009 there were 1,619 people unemployed in North East Hertfordshireclaiming Jobseeker’s Allowance, with 6 job seekers chasing every Job Centre vacancy.
· National debt is forecast to double to £1.4 trillion – equivalent to £22,500 of debt for every man, woman and child in North East Hertfordshire.
Under detailed new Conservative plans, Labour’s numerous and piecemeal work programmes would be simplified into a single back-to-work programme for everyone on out-of-work benefits. This would be backed up with new and additional work pairings, apprenticeships, further education college places and vocational education for young people. There would also be programmes to support self-employment, work clubs and volunteering opportunities to help people prepare for work and find jobs.
Action would also be taken to tackle Britain’s debt crisis, by reducing the cost of government while protecting front line services. Measures would include reducing the administrative costs of Whitehall and its quangos; capping the biggest government pensions; a pay freeze for public sector workers in 2011 – except the million lowest paid; concentrating benefit spending on the poorest and most vulnerable; and tackling the pensions time bomb while ensuring a decent standard of living in old age.
Commenting, Oliver Heald said:
“Some of the biggest challenges facingmy constituentsare Labour’s Jobs Crisis and Debt Crisis. There are alreadysixpeople chasing each job vacancy in North East Hertfordshireand we will soon each be burdened with £22,500 of government debt.
“Help should be directed towards those in our society who are most in need. Modern Conservatives will reward those who take responsibility, and care for those who can’t.”
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Monday 12 October 2009