Julian Smith, Member of Parliament for Skipton and Ripon, has welcomed new figures showing the number of people out of work and claiming benefits in Ripon, Masham and Nidderdale continues to fall.
Figures for March 2014 show there were 223 people in the Wards of Harrogate Borough Council in the constituency receiving Jobseekers Allowance (JSA), a 38 per cent year-on-year reduction from 315 in March 2013.
Compared to just before the 2010 General Election, the number of people out of work on JSA in the Wards is down by around half.
In the three Wards of Ripon (Minster, Spa and Moorside), the numbers out of work and on benefits continues to fall and is down by a third in one year.
While, in the three Nidderdale Wards (Nidd Valley, Pateley Bridge and Lower Nidderdale), the numbers out of work and on benefits is down 63 per cent since the last General Election.
Julian said: It is great news that there are more people in work and fewer claiming Jobseekers Allowance in Ripon, Masham and Nidderdale both year-on-year and since the General Election. It means more people are bringing home a regular pay packet for themselves and their families, giving them more financial security for the future.
“There is always more to do, but these figures show the Conservatives’ long-term economic plan is working. We need to stick to this to continue to get people off benefits and into work, delivering a more secure future for people who want to work hard and get on in life.
n 020 7219 7145 or e-mail julian.smith.mp@parliament.uk
