Budget 2009: £1.7bn extra for Jobcentre Plus
By politics.co.uk staff
A £1.7 billion extra investment in Jobcentre Plus was announced in the Budget today to help cope with ever-increasing unemployment figures.
Prior to the Budget this morning it was announced that unemployment had now reached 2.1 million, or 4.5 percent of the workforce, and the chancellor announced a series of measures he would take to control those figures.
He said that government support for the economy would protect 500,000.
There was a great deal of focus on trying to get the young into employment or training schemes including a £250 million investment in work experience in growth industries.
It was announced that under-25s who have been out of work for more than 12 months will be offered a job or a place in a training scheme while there is to be funding to provide 54,000 more sixth form places at schools or colleges for 16 and 17-year-olds who wish to continue their education.
For older employees there were commitments to increase the rate of statutory redundancy pay from £350 to £380 a week while a flexible new deal will help those who have been out of work for more than 12 months.
Employers were given a boost with a promise of £1 billion investment in developing and supporting low-carbon industries while there will be a new £750 million fund to help emerging technologies.
Companies who make a loss will be able to reclaim taxes paid until November 2010, an extension on their previous deadline.
