Steve calls for unemployment debate

Stephen Ladyman working for South Thanet

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Steve calls for unemployment debate

South Thanet MP has called for a debate in Parliament to see how unemployment hot spots, like Thanet, can be helped to attract jobs.

Speaking during Business Questions in Parliament Stephen Ladyman said:

"Just this week Grupo Antolin in my constituency has closed down with significant loss of jobs. Unemployment in Thanet has been cut by more than half since 1997 which is a great achievement but it remains stubbornly much above the national average. Looking at yesterday's unemployment figures there are about a couple of dozen such unemployment hot spots around the country. Can we have a debate to see what more we can do to help these areas attract jobs?"

Speaking after Business Questions, from Westminster, Dr.Ladyman went on to say:

"The closure of Grupo Antolin is at least partly related to changing production patterns in the car industry but what is clear is that they were allowed to leave without any sort of fight by Thanet Council. Thanet Council no longer prioritises job creation and looking for inward investment and has no standing economic development team anymore. We can't blame anyone but Thanet Council for that."

"In the absence of proactive steps to attract and support business investment into Thanet by the Council perhaps there is even more that central Government can do to help? They've done a huge amount already by giving us Regional Selective Assistance and investing in our local roads and railway but Thanet, and the other unemployment hot spots, need even more help if we are to fully share in the growing prosperity of the rest of the country. That's why I have called for a debate to see if the Government can step in to make up for the fact that Kent Council and Thanet Council are failing us."