Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons the north east has the highest unemployment rate in the UK for June to August 2017; and if he will make a statement.
The unemployment rate in the North East is 5.8%, back to pre-recession levels. The unemployment rate reflects a range of elements such as local labour market conditions, and demographic factors. However, the rate has fallen by 1.0 percentage point over the last year, the third largest fall of any region, and by 3.8 percentage points since 2010. The government is committed to maintaining and improving this performance through our welfare reforms and the support offered by Jobcentre Plus.