William Powell AM, welcomes Liberal Democrat measures to tackle youth unemployment (Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats)

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Montgomeryshire Liberal Democrats <montlibdems@gmail.com>

William Powell AM, welcomes Liberal Democrat measures to tackle youth unemployment

January 18, 2012 4:40 PM

William Powell, Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales, has welcomed plans from Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg MP to tackle the long term rise in youth unemployment.

William Powell AM said:

"Since 2004 we have seen youth unemployment steadily rising across the UK. Regrettably Wales has been hardest hit by this rise with youth unemployment (18-25) currently standing at 22.4%. In my region of Mid and West Wales the percentage of 18-24 year olds currently claiming Job Seeker's Allowance stands at an average of 6.5%^[1]; an unsustainable figure which requires immediate proactive action.

That is why I wholeheartedly welcome plans announced by the Liberal Democrat Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg MP, which sees a £1 billion Youth Contract to help young people into work. Starting next April, the Youth Contact with provide at least 410,000 new work places over the next three years and demonstrates the Liberal Democrats' commitment to the youth of Wales and the wider UK."

Commenting further, Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg MP said:

"Youth unemployment is an economic waste and a slow-burn social disaster.

"We can't lose the skills and talent of our young people - right when we need them most. We can't afford to leave our young men and women on the scrap heap. We need the next generation to help us build a new economy.

"The aim of the Youth Contract is to get every unemployed young person working or learning again before long-term damage is done.

"This is a £1bn package and what's different about it is that it gets young people into proper, lasting jobs in the private sector."

[1] Average figure for the five counties of Mid and West Wales: -
Carmarthenshire = 9.2%
Ceredigion = 2.7%
Gwynedd = 4.5%
Pembrokeshire = 8.7%
Powys = 7.6%