Budget 2009: £1.7bn extra for Jobcentre Plus

Wednesday, 22 April 2009 12:00 AM

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.

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• economy
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• economy and finance