17/10/2012

Unemployment Figures Represent More Failure - Nesbitt

Ulster Unionist Party Leader Mike Nesbitt has said that today’s unemployment figures represent more failure and lost opportunities and has questioned why the Executive meeting scheduled for this morning was cancelled.

The Strangford MLA said: "Today's unemployment statistics represent more failure and lost opportunities, not least as the trend in the rest of the United Kingdom is more positive.

"It is simply inexplicable, that on the very day when unemployment has risen once again, the Executive meeting scheduled for Wednesday morning was cancelled. Is the economy not supposed to be at the heart of everything we do at Stormont?

"There is no doubt that the recession is still hitting Northern Ireland hard and will continue to do so for some significant time to come.

"The fact that our unemployment rate is still rising when the numbers are decreasing in the rest of the UK should be a cause of great concern. The extent of our long-term unemployment is also extremely worrying as is the level of youth unemployment whereby 21 per cent of 18 to 24 year olds are unemployed.

"Quite simply this situation cannot be allowed to continue. Yesterday I wrote to the Prime Minister to urge him to move on the devolution of Corporation tax varying powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Ulster Unionist Party remains convinced that this would be the greatest contribution which we could make to re-balancing the Northern Ireland economy and helping grow the private sector to create the jobs and hope our people so desperately need."

(CD)

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