DESPIRE a deluge of negative economic news Tenbury MP Harriett Baldwin believes unemployment figures shine a positive light on the situation.

The West Worcestershire MP who constituency includes Tenbury has welcomed the latest employment figures announced by the Office of National Statistics.

Job Seeker’s Allowance claimants fell to 399 people down from 1,279 in 2010 and the number of young people making a claim fell by more than a half.

“The latest ONS figures show that the number of people locally claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance remains at low levels,” she said.

“Across West Worcestershire, 399 people are claiming Job Seekers Allowance out of 54,000 people of working age, down from 1,279 in 2010. A further 36 people are claiming Universal Credit.

“Only last week, I met with a company that took on its first member of staff through the job centre and is looking to recruit more in coming months,” added Harriett Baldwin.

“I know that the Government will continue to support the private sector to deliver more and more new vacancies, and offer as many people as possible the security of a regular pay packet.”