Employment minister Tony McNulty (pictured right) announced yesterday that the government is to put an extra £79m from the European Social Fund into training in the UK as part of a £158m package funded by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills.

The ESF funding, provided by the European Union, will go to people who need to develop their confidence and life skills to enable them to return to work.

The latest labour market statistics, released this week, show that the number of people in the UK now claiming unemployment benefits has risen sharply. There were 1,071,900 people claiming jobseekers allowance in November, up 75,700 since October and 238,000 over the past year.

The number of redundancies has also increased significantly this year. According to the Office for National Statistics, Labour Force Survey, there were 50,000 more redundancies in September 2008 in comparison to the same month in 2007: 180,000 people lost their jobs this quarter, 41,000 more than in the previous quarter and 43,000 more than in the same period last year. But the government says there are still more than half a million job vacancies needing to be filled.

McNulty said: “This month’s labour market figures are very disappointing and we will do all we can to give support to people during these tough times. We have put in place extra help and support that will ensure everyone who becomes unemployed stands the best chance possible of getting back to work, including making available £79m of additional European Social Fund money to support people who become unemployed.”

As well as the extra funding, which will come into effect from February 2009, McNulty has also agreed with Jobcentre Plus to promise more help to anyone who becomes unemployed.

He added: “Every jobcentre across the country is taking steps to help people who lose their jobs. In the event that somebody does become unemployed, I can promise them extra help and support that they need through Jobcentre Plus.

“Firstly people will see an expert advisor who can support them; they will have access to a wide range of jobs and get help with CV writing and completing job application forms. Where necessary, they will get help with skills advice and re-training. They will also receive help with their mortgage.”

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