Unemployment Action Teams

HC Deb 09 February 2004 vol 417 cc1139-40W

19. Chris Ruane

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the role of action teams in reducing unemployment. [153191]

Mr. Browne

Action teams are having a positive impact on the lives of disadvantaged people, in some of the most economically deprived areas of the country, and have already been successful in helping nearly 100,000 people into work.

I would like to thank my hon. Friend for the consistent support he has shown for the action team operating in his constituency, which has helped nearly 1,000 disadvantaged people across North West Wales into work, contributing to the fall in unemployment in his constituency of 41 per cent. since 1997.