§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what measures he is taking to tackle youth employment in the countryside. [103194]
§ Ms JowellThe Department's policies are generally individual focused and would therefore respond to need wherever it exists. We are raising standards of education to equip young people with the skills and knowledge they need to be able to take up jobs; assisting unemployed young people to acquire employability skills and find work through the New Deals for unemployed claimants; and helping those on inactivity benefits get back into the labour market and from there into employment through other welfare to work programmes such as the New Deal for Lone Parents.
As well as these, the Government are delivering macroeconomic stability so there can be increasing employment opportunities for all; and making work pay through various tax and benefit reforms.
All these measures should contribute to reducing youth unemployment in the countryside.