Rt Hon. Paul Boateng MP promotes government housing and employment projects in the North West

The Government is providing a strengthened approach to tackling disadvantage and increasing employment opportunity for all, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury – the Rt Hon. Paul Boateng – outlined today in a visit to the North West of England.

At the official opening of a Bay Housing Association project – Clare Street – in Blackpool, he witnessed a Government funded Supporting People programme in action. Clare Street provides intensively supported accommodation to young offenders and has already established a track record of eradicating re-offending for its residents.

The Supporting People programme provides housing related support to over 1.2 million vulnerable people – providing them with a better quality of life and helping them to live independently in their homes.

Paul Boateng said:

“The Clare Street Project is an excellent example of housing related support for young and sometimes vulnerable people. Many such projects are funded through the Supporting People programme backed by £1.7 bn each year now and for the next two years.

Continued investment will ensure that high quality, good value housing related services are provided for people enabling them to live independently and maximise their personal potential.”

In Bolton, visiting a Jobcentre Plus ethnic minority outreach employment programme, Mr Boateng pointed to the Government’s new targeted measures to build on Britain’s record levels of employment and increase employment opportunities in areas with high ethnic minority populations. These include:

the introduction of specialist advisors in Jobcentre Plus areas with high ethnic minority populations;
The announcement of a National Employment Panel review of measures to encourage employment, self-employment and the growth of small business for ethnic minorities and faith groups; and

a fund worth £8 million over the next two years available to Jobcentre Plus managers to provide local solutions to help more people in the area find work.

In Manchester, the Chief Secretary also took the opportunity to visit a Social Enterprise Development Initiative to see the support it provides for the Islamic Community.

Paul Boateng said:

“The ethnic minority outreach programmes I have seen today are truly inspirational. Building on the New Deal programmes, these initiatives are helping to tackle the gap in employment rates between ethnic minority communities and the overall national average.

Since 2002 over 17,000 individuals have been helped. This momentum is being continued through new initiatives announced in last month's Pre-Budget Report, including a review of employment and enterprise support for ethnic minorities and faith communities.”

Notes for Editors

1. Since 1997, claimant unemployment has fallen by over 46 % in Blackpool, by nearly 45% in Manchester and by nearly 35% in Bolton. Long-term unemployment has fallen by over 59% in Blackpool, by nearly 75% in Manchester and by over 71% Bolton.

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