‘Build houses to save jobs’

AN MP has called for a public works building programme to help tackle rising unemployment.

Oldham West and Royton Labour MP Michael Meacher spoke out as the number of people claiming job seekers allowance in Oldham rose for the third month running.

As of August 11 there were 4,520 people claiming JSA in Oldham — a total of 3.4 per cent of the population of the town.

Mr Michael Meacher said: “This is a national problem, not local to Oldham, but it is very disturbing.

“We are of course in quite a serious economic downturn and no one knows how deep or long it will go on.”

The Labour MP said one way to solve the problem would be to carry out a building programme — he is calling on the Government to build more social housing.

Mr Meacher added: “This would have a double whammy effect.

“It would be beneficial to the economy as the related skills sectors would be kept in employment, meaning more people would be paying taxes and less claiming benefits.

“There obviously would be a cost to Government to begin with but this would be outweighed by the benefits.”