§ Lord Inglewoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether there should be a programme of research to provide an improved understanding of the relationship between economic activities and the creation of jobs in the Cumbrian economy. [HL31]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Baroness Hollis of Heigham)We have a large and wide-ranging programme of research looking at issues related to helping more people to move into work. This includes comprehensive evaluation of our programmes designed to help people to move from dependence on benefits into a job. These programmes, alongside our sound economic policies, have helped to reduce the level of unemployment in Cumbria by 47 per cent over the last five years and long-term unemployment by nearly three-quarters.