Lammy calls for government agency to move to Tottenham to create jobs (From Haringey Independent)

David Lammy calls for government agency to move to Tottenham to create jobs

2:39pm Wednesday 15th February 2012 in News By David Hardiman

A Tottenham politician has called on the Government to move one of its agencies to the area to tackle unemployment.

Tottenham MP David Lammy said that figures released by the Office of National Statistics today which showed the number of jobseekers in Tottenham remained the highest in London was “depressing”.

In total, 6,607 people are claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in the constituency – 8.5 per cent of the population – and with only 252 registered jobs on offer, it means there are around 26 people chasing every position.

It is the 18th month in a row that the number of people seeking work has remained above 6,000, and Mr Lammy accused the Government of “inaction” on the problem.

He added: “We have had good news with Spurs and the local council committing to a brand new development in North Tottenham that will provide a welcome boost to the area – but we now need the Government to commit too.

“The work programme isn’t working and the Government must think bigger. It is time they moved one of the plethora of government agencies – like the DVLA or the Student Loans Company – to Tottenham.

“We need a game changer here and warm words from Westminster will not be enough to create jobs and opportunities in our corner of north London.”

Welfare reform minister Lord Freud said the figures nationally showed “encouraging signs of stability”.

He added: “However, we are not complacent – with more people in the labour market we know that competition for those jobs is tough and we will continue to make it our priority to find people work.”