1. 9 updates

Clegg launches jobs scheme

The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is launching his £1bn flagship scheme to get young people into work.

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Details of Youth Contract targets

The Youth Contract, launched by the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Minister for Employment Chris Grayling will mean that:

  • Businesses will be encouraged to take on under 25s, with 160,000 wage incentives worth up to £2,275.
  • An extra 250,000 work experience places will be provided over the next three years. Every 18 to 24 year-old Jobseekers Allowance claimant who wants one will now be able to take up a placement.
  • An extra 20,000 incentive payments will become available to encourage smaller businesses to recruit their first apprentices.
  • Extra resource will allow advisers based in Job Centres to spend more time with young people.

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Clegg: Youth Contracts will 'get you earning'

Mr Clegg said that the Youth Contracts will help young people in to jobs:

We're determined to tackle youth unemployment and set young people on the path to work before long-term damage is done.

Today is a major moment for Britain's unemployed young people. The message is clear - if you're under 25 and don't have a job, we are putting the money in to get you earning or learning through the Youth Contract. If you want to work or train, then we - together with businesses - will help you.

Nick Clegg's spokesman defends youth jobs scheme

Nick Clegg's official spokesman has rejected Labour's claim that no-one would be guaranteed a job under the Youth Contract, saying there would be 160,000 wage-subsidised jobs created as well as 250,000 work placements.

"This will be an extensive package of support that will be available if they walk into a job centre tomorrow," the spokesman said.

In contrast, he said Labour's Future Jobs Fund had been "poorly directed, expensive and did not deliver lasting results."

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Shadow work and pensions secretary: Youth Contract 'won't guarantee anyone a job'

Shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne said:

"Nick Clegg likes to brag that he warned the Cabinet about the youth jobs crisis in January last year, but his words haven't got a single young person into employment.

"Instead, the number of young people out of work for over a year has more than doubled whilst his government failed to produce any alternative to Labour's successful Future Jobs Fund.

"Complacent ministers have finally come up with their Youth Contract but the truth is it won't guarantee anyone a job. It's too little, too late and a million young people out of work will rightly wonder what has been going on."

Labour accuses the Government of complacency over youth unemployment

The launch of the Youth Contracts comes as Labour accused the Government of complacency over youth unemployment

Figures released by Labour show the numbers of 18 to 24-year-olds out of work has more than doubled from 53,000 to 107,000 - a 102% increase, since the start of last year.

The figures calculated by the independent House of Commons Library also reveal those out of work for nine months or more increased from 29,000 to 40,000 - a jump of 144%.

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