University think-tank calls for further Government action on jobs and educational opportunities
At the annual Trade Union Congress at a fringe meeting with the Fabian Society today (Tuesday) the Chief Executive of million+ Pam Tatlow will support the TUC’s assertion that the recession is still being felt by millions and will warn that much more needs to be done for the jobless young.
At the “Fair deal for the jobless generation?” fringe meeting, which will be held at the Jury’s Inn Hotel, Liverpool at 6pm, Pam Tatlow Chief Executive of million+ will say, “The going for many 16 to 24-year-olds is already very tough indeed. 20% of them – over 920,000 – are now classed as unemployed. In Britain, 16-17 year olds are not eligible for Job Seekers Allowance. The unemployment and not the claimant figures are the ones which quite literally count and even these statistics probably underestimate the scale of the problem, most economic commentators now expect numbers to rise to one million.
“The Government’s Young Britain campaign, its support for apprenticeships and internships, its addition of student support for 10,000 more university students in 2009 all show a wealth of understanding and activity compared to previous Governments – but it is unlikely to be enough. The only way for Britain to get out of recession is to grow the economy and this means growing and intervening further to deliver more jobs and more educational opportunities for young people.
“There has never been a more urgent need for universities, students, unions of all kinds and the unemployed to unite around the need for investment in jobs, apprenticeships and higher education. The young people of today do not deserve to be shortchanged for years to come by a global economic crisis that is most definitely not of their making.”
She will also state that, “If people want and are qualified to go to university they should be entitled to do so – and this means funding and not cuts for both teaching and student support.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- million+ is a leading university think-tank, working to solve the complex problems in higher education. www.millionplus.ac.uk
- For more information or to get the full text of the speech please contact Gemma Tumelty on 0207 7171655 or 07900 277819
- For a full copy of the speech click here million+ speech at the TUC 2009