UK MP Bryant slams Coalition’s new initiative on unemployment

British Labour MP Chris Bryant last night slammed the UK coalition government's new initiative for getting people off unemployment benefits and into work, saying the plan would not help the long-term unemployed.

The programme, launched yesterday by employment minister Chris Grayling, would rely on private providers to help people get back to work, paying them for results in the process.

The programme is aimed at creating new white-collar jobs for out-of work British graduates.

The new initiative specifically targets those on long term unemployment benefits.

Currently, there are 2.4 million unemployed people in the UK, while businesses are starting to recruit but are finding it hard to find employess - fuelling fears of 'lost generations' in Britain.(See: £5-bn white-collar employment initiative to be announced in the UK today) 

The plan comes as latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions show that Wales has 77,000 people on unemployment benefits for more that 10 years.