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| Brown promises action over jobs | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown has promised to help 500,000 people into work or work-based training, as the government attempts to stop unemployment increasing further. | |
| The prime minister said employers would be given up to £2,500 for every person they train who has been unemployed for more than six months. | |
| Hosting a jobs summit, he promised that communities would not be "written off". | |
| With 1.8 million people out of work, the Tories say the government's job package "does not go far enough". | With 1.8 million people out of work, the Tories say the government's job package "does not go far enough". |
| 'Not on my watch' | 'Not on my watch' |
| In a speech at the Science Museum in London, Mr Brown set out plans to prepare Britain for growth in sectors such as environmental technology, advanced manufacturing, healthcare and education. | |
| He said: "Failure to act now and to do so in coordination with our international partners would mean a deeper and longer global recession. | |
| "It would mean temporary rises in unemployment becoming permanent. It would mean as in the past whole communities written off, and that would mean lasting damage to our economy and a bigger bill to pay in the future. And this will not happen on my watch." | "It would mean temporary rises in unemployment becoming permanent. It would mean as in the past whole communities written off, and that would mean lasting damage to our economy and a bigger bill to pay in the future. And this will not happen on my watch." |
| Mr Brown said: "We cannot always prevent people losing their jobs but we can help people finding their next jobs." | Mr Brown said: "We cannot always prevent people losing their jobs but we can help people finding their next jobs." |
| There are fears that three million people could be unemployed by 2010 | There are fears that three million people could be unemployed by 2010 |
| He told the audience that people unemployed for three months or more would also get help, including "extensive" job interview training, and would have to sign on weekly for benefit payments. | He told the audience that people unemployed for three months or more would also get help, including "extensive" job interview training, and would have to sign on weekly for benefit payments. |
| Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell will give further details of the £500m scheme to help people who have been out of work for more than six months. | Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell will give further details of the £500m scheme to help people who have been out of work for more than six months. |
| He told the BBC: "The important thing is most people get back into work within six months." | He told the BBC: "The important thing is most people get back into work within six months." |
| Mr Purnell added: "What we have learned from previous recessions is we need to make sure people don't feel out of touch with the labour market... | Mr Purnell added: "What we have learned from previous recessions is we need to make sure people don't feel out of touch with the labour market... |
| "We don't want to waste a generation of people, as has happened in the past." | "We don't want to waste a generation of people, as has happened in the past." |
| The Federation of Small Business has launched a five-point plan which it says could create up to 400,000 new jobs. | The Federation of Small Business has launched a five-point plan which it says could create up to 400,000 new jobs. |
| Measures it is calling for include the promotion of part-time working, simplified regulation and lower taxes. | Measures it is calling for include the promotion of part-time working, simplified regulation and lower taxes. |
| Since being made redundant it's become obvious that the jobs aren't out there. And what jobs there are, an awful lot of people are applying for them Mike Kirkham-Jones Read Mike's story | Since being made redundant it's become obvious that the jobs aren't out there. And what jobs there are, an awful lot of people are applying for them Mike Kirkham-Jones Read Mike's story |
| It also wants to see more investment in apprenticeships and greater opportunity for small firms to bid for government contracts. | It also wants to see more investment in apprenticeships and greater opportunity for small firms to bid for government contracts. |
| Union leaders at the summit will propose more training and job creation programmes, while environmental campaigners want greater investment in energy efficiency. | Union leaders at the summit will propose more training and job creation programmes, while environmental campaigners want greater investment in energy efficiency. |
| Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite, said he welcomed any attempt to create new jobs but there needed to be more emphasis on protecting existing jobs, particularly in car manufacturing. | Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite, said he welcomed any attempt to create new jobs but there needed to be more emphasis on protecting existing jobs, particularly in car manufacturing. |
| Not far enough | Not far enough |
| He said: "The businesses are basically sound. It's a question that they have a cash-flow problem. | He said: "The businesses are basically sound. It's a question that they have a cash-flow problem. |
| "Commercial loans are difficult or more difficult through banks who don't appear to be passing on the advantage the government has given them. | "Commercial loans are difficult or more difficult through banks who don't appear to be passing on the advantage the government has given them. |
| "And the government needs to step in to ensure that these particularly skilled jobs are not lost because once lost they'll never return." | "And the government needs to step in to ensure that these particularly skilled jobs are not lost because once lost they'll never return." |
| The Conservatives are dismissing the event as more spin than substance, designed, they say, to cover up that Mr Brown's recession policies are not working. | The Conservatives are dismissing the event as more spin than substance, designed, they say, to cover up that Mr Brown's recession policies are not working. |
| Shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The package on jobs is welcome as far as it goes, but it doesn't go far enough. | Shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The package on jobs is welcome as far as it goes, but it doesn't go far enough. |
| "It's ironic that the government are accusing Tories of being a do-nothing party and then adopting the Conservatives' proposals on unemployment." | "It's ironic that the government are accusing Tories of being a do-nothing party and then adopting the Conservatives' proposals on unemployment." |
| Have you been unemployed for six months or more? What are your experiences? What do you make of the government's plans to help you to get back to work? Send us your comments using the form below. | Have you been unemployed for six months or more? What are your experiences? What do you make of the government's plans to help you to get back to work? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |