Wolverhampton North East MP, Emma Reynolds, has challenged the Government over its failure to stem rising long term unemployment.Long term unemployment was up 25% in Wolverhampton North East and up by 45% nationwide last year.

Pointing to these figures Emma asked Mark Hoban MP, Minister of State for Employment, “according to the House of Commons Library, there has been a 45% increase in the number of people unemployed over the last 12 months. When will the Government get a grip on this issue, and why will they not take up Labour’s Compulsory Jobs Guarantee?”

Speaking after her question, Emma said “long term unemployment is fast becoming a major problem in this country, and the Government is manifestly failing to address it. The evidence shows that those who are claiming job seekers allowance for over 2 years find it very difficult to get back into work. This is increasing the benefits bill paid for by hard working taxpayers. Labour’s Compulsory Jobs Guarantee will require those who have been out of work for 2 years to take up a job or lose their benefits.”

Emma also denounced the Government for discriminating against women in the pension system. Half a million women born between 6 April 1952 and 6 July 1953 will not qualify for the new pension but men of the same age will.

Emma asked the Minister of State for Pensions, “[I] do not understand why the Government are, in effect, targeting and discriminating against nearly 500,000 women, 500 of whom are in my constituency—one of them is my mother—or why they think this is fair, given that men of exactly the same age will get a higher pension. It is not fair, but is it legal and will the Government reconsider their proposals?” 

Speaking after her question, Emma said: “The Government has failed to recognise that many hard working women will be hit by these unfair and ill-thought out proposals. These plans need to be sent back to the drawing board to ensure these women aren’t discriminated against.”

January 2013