Government still failing Highland youth - Alexander

12.00.00am GMT Tue 9th Feb 2010

Figures obtained in a parliamentary answer by local MP Danny Alexander have demonstrated how the Government's 6 month pledge for young people rings hollow in the Highlands.

Analysis of the figures obtained shows that for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey:

For 2009 the average amount of time an 18 - 24 year old claimed jobseekers allowance was 8.5 months.

The average length of claim peaked in September at 10.3 months.

Gordon Brown announced in December that from January 2010, 18 - 24 year olds will be guaranteed a job, work placement or work related skills training after 6 months claiming JSA.

The Liberal Democrats have pledged that as part of their jobs package they will institute a 90 day promise that no young person will claim jobseekers for more than 90 days without receiving financial support to access training, education, work experience or specialist professional help.

Commenting, Danny Alexander said:

"We must not let our young people become long term victims of this recession. Eight and a half months is far too long for them to be stuck claiming JSA and risks them getting trapped in a cycle of unemployment and low expectations.

"I'm glad that the government has lowered their threshold for help from 12 months to 6 but these figures show they have a long way to go to meet that target. Moreover 6 months is still too long.

"Skills and experience for our young people are the most important investments we can make for recovery. That is why we would halve again the government's pledge to 3 months. Our promise would ensure that young people after no more than 90 days claiming JSA would be given the support needed to set them on a path to full-time permanent employment.

"Our young people must be at the centre of economy. We cannot continue to leave them on the outside looking in."

ENDS