Out-of-work benefits figure for Tatton second lowest in north west

New figures reveal that the proportion of people claiming out-of-work benefits in Tatton is the second lowest in the north west region.

The latest figures show 430 people were in receipt of the payments as of last month, meaning 0.8 per cent of people are out of work in the area, compared to 2.7 per cent across the region and 2.1 per cent nationally.

Tatton boasts the second lowest rate out of the 75 Parliamentary constituencies across the north west, only beaten by Cumbria’s Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency, which boast levels of 0.6 per cent.

According to the Office of National Statistics youth unemployment in Tatton is also continuing to fall, with 30 18 to 21-year-olds in receipt of out of work benefits.

Ms McVey said: “I am delighted levels across the constituency remain low, but I will never be complacent.

“While there is still someone who wants to work and can work looking for employment there is still more to be done.”

Ms McVey, in her role as Work and Pensions Secretary, said the Government was committed to getting people into work.

She said: “Getting a job means securing an income and the chance to build a career. That’s why up and down the country we are doing all we can to help people into work.

“And from next month we’ll be taking thousands more people out of paying tax and also increasing the National Living Wage, benefiting those on the lowest pay and making sure they keep more of what they earn.

“In fact, introducing the National Living Wage gave the lowest earners the biggest pay rise in 20 years, and by raising the National Living Wage we have ensured that the lowest earners have seen their wages grow by almost seven per cent above inflation since 2015.”

Nationally the number of unemployment benefit claimants stands at 838,000. According to the ONS, the employment rate is at 75.3 per cent – up from 74.6 per cent last year and the joint highest since records began.