Kevin Foster, Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for Torbay, has today (Wednesday 13th August 2014) welcomed figures showing that the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance in Torquay and Paignton has fallen by 687 over the last year, a drop of 29% since July 2013.
Since 2010 the number of people on unemployment benefit in Torquay and Paignton has fallen by 570, with more jobs on the way as part of the £270m Growth Deal announced last month for the Heart of the South West LEP area.
As part of the Growth Deal £3.4m will be invested by the Government in the Torquay Gateway project, with a further £0.4m of funding for better access to Torquay Town Centre. All aimed at ensuring more people can find real jobs year round in the bay.
Kevin said: “The fall of 30% in the numbers claiming Job Seekers Allowance over the last year shows more people in Torquay and Paignton are coming off the dole and getting back into work. The investment planned under the Growth Deal, combined with the major investment being made in our transport infrastructure, shows our long term economic plan is working for local people.”
“There is still more work to do, not least in tackling the higher rate of unemployment in the bay compared to our neighbours, but this is another step in the right direction as the economy recovers.”