The Conservatives today unveiled bold new plans to get Wales working.
With one in four working age adults economically inactive and the unemployment rate highest of any UK nation, Wales is in the grip of a jobs crisis.
Jointly launching the Get Wales Working plan in Cardiff, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Theresa May and Shadow Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan said there is a “moral and economic duty to act”.
The plan includes details of:
- The Work Programme, which will simplify Labour’s piecemeal jobs programmes into one single back-to-work scheme for everyone on out of work benefits
- Work for Yourself, which will support people moving into self-employment
- Support for young people, to tackle youth unemployment and those not in work, education or training
- Work Together, to support volunteering in Wales
- Work Clubs, providing support and funding for voluntary, community-based schemes to tackle local unemployment
- The creation of new technical schools
- Measures to boost exports and create new university places
In a joint statement at the launch of Get Wales Working, Theresa May and Cheryl Gillan said:
“Wales is suffering disproportionately from Labour’s failure to get to grips with rising unemployment.
“Labour has had 13 years to build the Welsh economy, but even by the admission of the Welsh Secretary and First Minister the private sector is too small.
“We cannot afford to leave people behind and let their talent go to waste.
“That’s why Conservatives will work with the Welsh Assembly Government to implement the Work Programme and ensure everyone who needs help is supported into work.
“Individuals, families and businesses across Wales continue to be hit by the fallout of Gordon Brown’s recession and Labour’s failure to develop the Welsh economy since 1997.
“During Labour’s recession unemployment rose by some of the highest increases on record, putting thousands more Welsh workers out of work.
“Even though the recession is over unemployment is still rising, which is why we need to give people even more help to get back to work and to rescue the Welsh economy from the wreckage of Labour’s economic failure.”
