More than one in 10 young people not in education, employment or training
More than eighty thousand people aged 16 to 24 are not in education, employment or training according to figures highlighted by Bedford and Kempston Liberal Democrats.
The figures highlighted in a parliamentary question, taken from the Labour Force Survey for the first part of 2009, show that 83,000 young people were not in education, employment or training for the first quarter in the East of England.
Henry Vann, local parliamentary campaigner in Bedford and Kempston for the Liberal Democrats said:
"It is scandalous that more than one in 10 young people are not receiving any kind of education, training or employment. As the second wave of the recession hits, everyone needs help now, and it is likely to hit people aged 16-24 the hardest."
"Labour's policies have failed. Instead of a small VAT bribe, or a 10 pence tax hike, Labour could have invested properly in a green road to recovery which would have created jobs for everyone."
"The government must invest wisely now, and scrap unpopular, unnecessary programmes. Labour must start being honest about the challenges we will all face."