Hull MP slams Clegg 'Youth Contract' on NEETs

Hull North MP Diana Johnson has slammed today's announcement of only £10.7m across Yorkshire and Humber to assist 16 and 17 year olds not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs).

Diana Johnson MP said: "Nick Clegg's Youth Contract offers only £10.7m across the whole of Yorkshire and Humber, compared to the £40m for our region in the first round alone of Labour's Future Jobs Fund.

"Nationally the Future Jobs Fund was worth £1bn, compared to the £126m announced today.

"Nick Clegg's rhetoric is also a bit rich, given that Lib Dems tore up their General Election pledge to axe tuition fees, made in full knowledge of the deficit, and both tripled these fees and axed the Educational Maintenance Allowance. These changes will mean many more young people in places such as Hull being NEETs over the next few years.

"Cuts to regeneration funding for Hull and a flat-lining economy also means that there are far fewer jobs and skills training opportunities for local youngsters. This Youth Contract is just part of the wider Coalition Work Programme that is increasingly being exposed as poor quality and merely a way of massaging the jobless figures."

Ends