On a visit to Leeds Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall recently confirmed the Government’s commitments to its manifesto ‘Back to Work Plan’ and say tackling economic inactivity is central to the Government’s number one mission of growing the economy. The visit comes days after the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves MP, unveiled the Government’s first steps to securing sustained economic growth as the only route to improving the prosperity of the country and the living standards of working people. Ms Kendall said rising levels of economic inactivity are unacceptable and that immediate action must be taken. 9.4 million people are now economically inactive, a record 2.8 million people are out of work due to long-term sickness, and 900,000 young people (1 in 8) are not in education, employment, and training. Click here for more and here for FE Week commentary and here for FE News commentary.
