SOLIHULL UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES SHOOT UP AGAIN (West Bromwich and Warley Liberal Democrats)

West Bromwich and Warley Liberal Democrats <info@westbromwichandwarleylibdems.org.uk>

SOLIHULL UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES SHOOT UP AGAIN

January 28, 2009 12:37 PM
Originally published by West Midlands Liberal Democrats

Lorely Burt MP has kept her election promise to introduce her Bill in Parliament. The number of people unemployed and registered for Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) shot up by 74.7% to 1200 in Solihull constituency last month, compared to 687 people claiming JSA in December 2007.

In November the rise over the previous twelve months was 47.3%, indicating a sharp rise, increasing month on month as recession begins to bit harder.

Commenting, Lorely Burt MP said:

"All the indicators are pointing to more pain to come for families in Solihull struggling to cope with fixed bills and reduced income.

"Too many government initiatives that are designed to help families and businesses through these troubled times are just not getting through when people need them most.

"There has been a marked increase in the number of people coming to see me who are having difficulty meeting their council tax payments, and others simply cannot make ends meet because of government mistakes with work and family tax credits.

"Small businesses are still finding it very difficult to access credit, even when they are offering their homes as security.

"If the banks do not free up money quickly, then government must step in and make them do it.

"Wherever possible the council, banks and government departments must take steps to ease people through financial hardship so that they still have the capacity to recover when the recession eases. That may not be for some time, so flexibility and negotiation must be the order of the day."