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Government is "getting something right"

An MP whose constituency is set to suffer another jobs blow has said only 80 people in the area have been unemployed for longer than 12 months.

Phil Wilson, MP for Sedgefield, in County Durham, claimed the figure was proof the Government was “getting something right” in its efforts to get people back to work.

The MP had been commenting on the closure of the Schott glass plant, in Newton Aycliffe, which he described as “very disappointing”.

German firm Schott said the factory was making significant losses and it had no viable alternative but to close it by the end of the year, with the loss of 151 jobs.

Mr Wilson conceded that unemployment had risen rapidly in his constituency, with Schott the latest manufacturer in a long line to axe jobs at Newton Aycliffe, home to the North East’s second biggest industrial estate.

He said: “This is very disappointing news for the people that work there.

“I have been in touch with JobCentre Plus and I understand they will be deploying their rapid response service to do their best to ensure that we can get people back into work as soon as possible.”

Mr Wilson said official figures showed unemployment, as of last month, had climbed to 2,617 in his constituency, albeit from what he described as a “low base”.

However, of those only 80 were deemed to be long-term unemployed - having claimed jobseekers allowance for more than 12 months.

He said: “Tragically, unemployment figures will continue to rise while we get through this global recession.”

He said: “South Durham is taking a particular hit at the moment. However, there are still people finding jobs and I am confident we are doing all we can to help those people out of work.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .