Streatham has been boosted by news of falling unemployment figures both in Lambeth and nationally. Across the UK, unemployment is 450,000 lower than expected at the time of the last budget and 53% lower than during the last comparable recession in 1992.

In Lambeth, there are 14,901 fewer unemployed people compared to 1992. This means that thanks to the government’s efforts, unemployment is 56% lower here than during the last recession when the Tories were in charge.

The government has provided extra investment in Job Centres, education and training to help people through the economic recovery.

The Future Jobs Fund was launched to tackle employment for young people, while the government’s September guarantee ensures that there is a place in education, training or a job for every young person leaving school.

Speaking to the BBC, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Yvette Cooper said that Labour government investment in jobs would continue in the long term, even after full economic recovery.

Job Centre Plus in both Streatham and Brixton, alongside the local Connexions centre for young people, are all working hard to help people out of work find jobs and training.

Follow this link to see a map showing the difference in unemployment rates from 1992 to 2010.

Minister for Housing and Planning John Healey visited our area on 14 January to see the Clapham Park Estate, one of the government’s New Deal for Communities (NDC) zones.

Mr Healey met local residents and community leaders from Clapham Park Homes, a community led housing association that now runs the estate.

Clapham Park Homes was founded by the Clapham Park Project, an initiative that has received £70 million investment from the Labour Government since 2001.

Recently the Clapham Park Estate was earmarked for £9.5 million of Government funding to provide good quality housing as part of the Kickstart house building programme.

In addition the money has been provided on the condition that Clapham Park Homes provide schemes for local labour and apprenticeships, ensuring continued investment and opportunities in the area.

The redevelopment of the estate will consist of the refurbishment of existing blocks alongside the construction of new housing. As well as Government funding, the project will be funded by the sale of new homes.

Good quality, well managed and maintained homes are in the process of being built in an area revitalised with a network of new parks, open spaces, better transport and good schools.

Commenting on his visit, during which he inspected the new housing, Mr Healey said:

“I am delighted Chuka asked me to come and visit Clapham Park so I could see how the money we have ploughed into the area is being spent and so I could talk to local residents about what more we could do.

“The residents Chuka and I spoke to told us that they were pleased to see the Government investment in the area, building homes and supporting jobs – that is what we have been doing since 1997 on the Clapham Park Estate and we will continue to do so.”

Chuka highlighted the improvements to the local area, saying:

“The Clapham Park Estate has improved massively from when I was growing up in the constituency and I will work tirelessly to ensure the investment and improvements continue.”

You can visit the Clapham Park Homes website and find out more about the project here: www.cph-online.co.uk

The Labour government has announced over £1.7 billion of investment for manufacturing research and new industries such as the digital sector and biotechnologies.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown stated: “Growth is not only the key to prosperity and jobs, but also rebuilding the revenues for safeguarding the public services on which we rely.

“The growth strategy shows how we will support and unleash the entrepreneurial, innovative and dynamic talents we know we have in Britain.”

The focus is on long-term sustainable growth strategies in the UK. The Business Secretary, Peter Mandelson noted that much could be learnt from public companies such as John Lewis. According to evidence the company, which shares its rewards with employees, is successful in pursuing long term growth.

The government’s new strategy features £1 billion of investment in the upgrading of the country’s digital infrastructure, £70 million of new funding for manufacturing research projects and the creation of 35,000 advanced technical apprenticeships over the next two years. £38.5 million has also been assigned to 260 new research low carbon technologies projects.

Commenting on the announced investment Chuka said: “This funding, particularly for research into low-carbon technologies, clearly demonstrates Labour’s commitment to fighting climate change, alongside investment in new jobs and in a strategic long-term restructuring of the economy.”

Housing Minister John Healey MP has announced that Clapham Park Homes has been shortlisted for £9.5million of funding to support the building of new homes in the Clapham Park area and to provide new local jobs and apprenticeships.

The government’s Kickstart programme aims to support housebuilding sites which have experienced difficulties progressing in the difficult current economic climate. Housing associations like Clapham Park Homes have found it hard to secure bank credit for developments following the Credit Crunch.

The £9.5million earmarked for Clapham Park Homes is part of the second round of special Kickstart funding and follows £450million already released nationally to build 11,500 homes.

The funding announced comes on tough terms. 50% of it is recoverable by government and Clapham Park Homes would have to provide schemes for local labour and apprenticeships to secure the monies.

With half of shortlisted homes set to be for affordable rent or sale, this is a boost for first time buyers and prospective Clapham Park Homes tenants.

The project will now go through a rigorous final assessment by the Homes and Communities Agency to determine whether the Clapham Park funding will get the green light. As the funding is intended to support the housebuilding industry when it needs it most, Mr Healey has made clear that one of the key factors will be the ability to complete building work by March 2012.

Commenting on the announcement, Chuka Umunna, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for the Clapham Park area, said:

“I was delighted when the Minister’s office contacted me to let me know that Clapham Park had been shortlisted for these monies which will help bring new homes, jobs and apprenticeships to our area.

“This money is in addition to the £56million that we have been spending on regenerating the Clapham Park area since 1997.”

Housing Minister John Healey MP said:

“We are using the power of Government investment to build homes and support jobs at a time when the housebuilding industry needs it most.

“I’m making it a condition of getting this Government money that all builders offer recruitment of local people and apprenticeship schemes.

“With this money we’re kickstarting stalled developments, supporting new jobs, training future generations of construction workers and building the quality homes we need.”

This week’s Pre-Budget Report reflects Labour’s determination to maintain frontline public services, protect the environment and ensure bankers do not continue to profit while taxpayers pay for their mistakes.

Employment
Unemployment continues to be at the forefront of issues the government is tackling. Several new measures were included in the Pre-Budget Report:

- Guarantees of a place for every 16 and 17 year-old in education or training to be available to school leavers again in September 2010.
- From next month, no one under 24 will be unemployed for longer than six months before being guaranteed work or training – down from 12 months.
- The minimum number of hours those over 65 need to work to receive working tax credit will be reduced.
- The government is offering financial support for 10,000 undergraduates from poor backgrounds to take up internships in industry and the professions.

Pensions and Benefits
- Basic state pension will rise by 2.5 per cent in April.
- Additional support for mortgage interest scheme for the unemployed extended for six months.
- Child and disability benefit will rise by 1.5 per cent in April.
- Free school meals to be extended among primary pupils in low-income families from September 2010.

Taxation
- A one-off levy of 50 per cent is being applied to bank bonuses above £25,000, to be paid by the bank, not the employee. This is expected to create £550 million which will be invested in jobs for young people. Chuka has campaigned for the government to impose a one-off tax on banks.
- New tax avoidance laws ensuring that an extra £5bn per year will be protected from evasion and avoidance.
- No increase in income tax.

Environment and Energy
Streatham’s recent Q&A on Climate Change with Chuka and Ed Miliband reflects Labour’s commitment to protecting our environment:

- A new scrappage scheme, similar to the highly successful car scrappage scheme, to help replace 125,000 inefficient boilers.
- From April 2010, people who have a home wind turbine or solar panels and send power back to the national grid will receive, on average, a tax-free payment of £900 a year.
- Electric cars will be exempted from company car tax for five years, with a 100% first year capital allowance for electric vans.
- Doubling government finance for carbon capture and storage demonstration projects.
- An additional £200m of funding for energy efficiency schemes.
- £120m for new low-carbon industries in the UK.
- Helping more vulnerable households with energy bills; doubling support provided by energy companies to £300m by 2013/14

Small Businesses
The government is committed to helping local businesses through the recovery:

- An increase in corporation tax for small firms will be deferred.
- The Time To Pay scheme, allowing firms to spread tax payments will be extended for as long as is needed.
- Allowing the scheme for bank loans to small businesses to be extended for a further 12 months, guaranteeing a further £500m of loans.
- Encouraging growth and innovation through reductions in corporation tax relating to new patents.
- The new Growth Capital Fund will be set up to invest in small and medium enterprises.

The Department for Work and Pensions has launched a new investment programme to tackle unemployment for young people aged 18-24.

The government has pledged £1bn, and any organisation from the public, private or third sector can apply for funding with the long term aim of creating 150,000 additional jobs aimed at young people who have been out of work for nearly a year to deliver real benefits to communities.

During these tough economic times, it is important that our young aspiring men and women have access to work, training and education. This is a new approach for creating jobs and will provide hope for young people and job seekers in deprived communities.

Organisations in Streatham, which is one of the youngest constituencies in the country, can take the lead in providing new jobs for young people.

Lambeth First has already been awarded more than £1.2 million to help 18-24 year olds into local work under the Future Jobs Fund. The new central government funding will help create 198 new jobs in the borough over the next six months for young people who would normally be at risk of becoming long-term unemployed.

The government anticipates that 10,000 new jobs are to be created within the culture, media and sport sectors following successful bids to the Future Jobs Fund.

For more information visit the Future Jobs Fund site.

The government has launched a new careers strategy to modernise careers education and make sure every that young person, whatever their background, can aim for the top.

The scheme was launched in collaboration with football legends Sir Alex Ferguson and Ryan Giggs.

It aims to make a real difference for children in Streatham by offering them support and guidance beginning earlier, at primary school.

The proposals include the following initiatives:

- Providing a £10 million fund to support innovative ways of delivering careers education.

- Every young person will have access to a mentor – two new national mentoring champions will help increase mentoring opportunities between schools, businesses and higher education.

- Moving careers advice into the 21st Century with better online access to careers advice through Facebook, You Tube, blogs and forums and a new dedicated online mentoring scheme from 2010 to enable young people to contact professionals online.

The scheme aims to give more help to disadvantaged and disabled young people in accessing work experience so that all young people – regardless of their background, ethnicity or gender – can realise their full potential.

Every young person will get careers education up to the age of 18 in line with raising the school leaving age.

The new strategy has been endorsed by Manchester United player Ryan Giggs:

“Mentoring was very important to my career, Sir Alex has been a mentor to me since I started out and has helped me not only in football but in my life. If young people can receive the kind of mentoring that I did it, it is sure to give them a good start in their chosen field and lead them to success.”

A key emphasis of the government’s scheme is the partnership of schools, businesses and parents, on which Sir Alex Ferguson said:

“All sorts of people can influence children in their career choices, but it is important that teachers, parents and businesses spot talent early on and nurture young people to achieve the best they can.”

The Conservatives are set to adopt anti-trade union legislation which would go much further than Margeret Thatcher ever dared to tread with plans which would shackle workers by effectively removing unions’ ability to take industrial action.

They want to create new and prohibitively high turnout thresholds for strike ballots, according to a recent Guardian report.

A majority of people eligible to vote would have to vote yes – not just those people actually taking part in the ballot.

However, not a single Conservative MP was elected by a majority of electors in their constituency.

It is thought that David Cameron also intends to revive the idea of banning strikes in services such as the Fire Brigade and public transport.

These changes would derail the positive steps the Labour government has taken to ensure that unions can democratically represent their members.

The right to strike is a fundamental part of democracy and the proposals would effectively take this away.

Find out more about the campaign to protect union rights and sign the Unions Together petition.

Every day unions help thousands of people at work. This includes negotiating for better pay and conditions, campaigning for a fair deal at home and abroad and working with employers to expand training and development programmes. Last year unions also won £1 million in equal pay claims – an average of £15,000 per member.

This excellent video highlights the positive impact trade unions have made for society as a whole.

Below is a video about the People’s Supermarket, that is being established in Lambeth, which I am a strong supporter of.  It will offer a new way of shopping that aims to change the way we buy food. In short, it is a supermarket that is run by the people, for the people, selling the best food at the lowest possible prices.

I think the People’s Supermarket is a good antidote to the dominance of the increasingly dominant big supermarket chains. From a political view point, if we are to break the grip of big business and the market over our lives, we need to explore different forms of ownership and organisations like this – the People’s Supermarket is a great model. For more information, watch the my video interview below and visit: www.peoplessupermarket.org.