Big boost for Norwich for Jobs phase two

Chloe Smith, MP for Norwich North and founder of the Norwich for Jobs project, has welcomed the Chancellors announcement of additional support for disabled jobseekers.

 

Delivering his Autumn Statement, the Chancellor said:

 

“We’ll increase in real terms the help we provide to people with disabilities to get into work.

 

“This can all be delivered within the 14% savings we make to the resource budget of the Department for Work and Pensions, including by reducing the size of their estate and co-locating job centres with local authority buildings.

 

“It’s the way to save money while improving the frontline service we offer people – and providing more support for those who are most vulnerable and in need of our help.”

 

Commenting on the announcement Chloe said:

 

“For those who can’t work, we have to make sure the safety net is there to support them, but for those who want to work we cannot allow them to be excluded just because they have a disability.

 

“Norwich for Jobs has already succeeded in halving youth unemployment in our city. Our next challenge is to match disabled jobseekers with employers. The Chancellor’s announcement of extra support is most welcome.”

 

Across East Anglia employment and wages are up and businesses continue to grow. Over the last parliament 229,000 jobs were created, the number of businesses grew by 58,700 and median weekly pay for full-time employees grew by nearly six per cent – faster than the UK average.