MP welcomes news of unemployment rate drop

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has welcomed today's unemployment figures from the Office of National Statistics, which show a continuing fall in the number of people out of work

The number of unemployed people in Tim's Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency in June 2014 was 283, or a rate of 0.7 % of the economically active population aged 16 to 64, the 645th highest of the 650 UK parliamentary constituencies. (1st = highest rate of unemployment, 650th = lowest rate of unemployment.)

The number of claimants fell by 199 since June 2013 and 34 since May 2014.

Tim said: "It's reassuring for South Lakeland that we are seeing continuing falls in the unemployment rate, although the figures are not seasonally adjusted so they need to be greeted with some caution-they do not reflect seasonal work.

"Our area has a very low rate of people out of work, but that is no comfort to job seekers. I am working hard with local businesses to encourage them to take on apprentices and take advantage of schemes to assist with employing people. I am also working with further education providers to make sure learning opportunities to support apprentices and other workers are available."