YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT IN HARLOW

That this House welcomes the latest official figures, which show that youth unemployment in Harlow is falling; notes that from November to December 2011, youth unemployment fell from 715 to 695; further notes that young people in Harlow are better off than the average in the East of England, or the UK; believes that this is a small step in the right direction and strengthens the case for a new University Technical College in the town; further notes that last year there was a massive rise in the number of apprentices being taken on both in Harlow and nationally and that in Harlow alone the number of apprentices has rocketed by 73 per cent. from 450 in 2009-10 to a provisional figure of 780 for 2010-11; concludes that Harlow is steadily recovering from the highest ever level of youth unemployment in recent years, which was under the previous administration in April 2009, when 765 local young people were out of work; and further welcomes Government measures to deal with youth unemployment that are beginning to make significant inroads.