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Work Programme (Wales)

Policy should be dovetailed with every initiative. As I was saying on the Rhyl city strategy, when 60 or 70 groups are in one room from the public, private and voluntary sectors, we do get that perfect dovetailing. That is why we have had such a success. One of our biggest successes was with the future jobs fund: 7,000 18 to 24-year-olds across Wales have been put back into work, and 450 of them were in my constituency in the Vale of Clwyd. It was fantastic to see those young people, and we had a great record: 55% found employment and 25% went back to college. Admittedly, some of them did go back on the dole, but even they were primed with a bit more respect, energy and enthusiasm. That successful programme in Rhyl, in Wales and in the UK was ended by the current Government within their first six weeks. They said that £6,000 was too much to spend on turning a young life around. I am not accusing any Government Member of sending their children to Eton, but some of them spend £30,000 a year to turn their own youngsters’ lives around. What is good enough for them is good enough for us and our communities. It was political spite that ended the future jobs fund.