Recent figures showing jobless claimants show that Wyre Forest is suffering worse than the UK average. Although Wyre Forest's current claimant numbers (as of the 13th November) showed the district was marginally below the average for the country, the rate of increase in claimants is far higher than would normally be expected.
IN the last year, claimants have risen by 514 to 1,557. At 2.7% of the working population, this is fractional lower than the 2.8% average for the country. But what is alarming is that the increase is a whopping 49% increase over the year, compared with the national average at just 36%.
Commenting on the figures, Mark Garnier said: "This big increase is certainly alarming - especially when you consider that they won't include any fallout from either Sealine or Ceramaspeed.
"Wyre Forest has certainly, in the past, had better employment numbers than elsewhere in the country, but these figures are suggesting that we could have a more fragile economy locally.
"What is vitally important is that we as a community recognise this and work towards securing Wyre Forest's future after this recession. That is why I am continuing to work to improve the local infrastructure - with the Stourport relief road being the flagship project. In that way we can improve our district's prospects by making it a more attractive place for new businesses to locate and invest in.
"In the meantime, it is clear that the Government's bank recapitalisation plan is not working; that the Government has blown £12.5 billion on an utterly pointless VAT reduction; and that enormous problems are being built up for the future with the Government's misguided spend-fest. Now is the time for the Government to start listening to Conservative policy and adopt the £50bln Conservative loan guarantee proposals that will free up liquidity, and get business and banks working again."