FIGURES recently published by the Office of National Statistics make alarming reading for Waveney.Over a third of working age households have no one in full time employment; 12,000 households in 2007 up from 9,000 in 1999.

FIGURES recently published by the Office of National Statistics make alarming reading for Waveney.

Over a third of working age households have no one in full time employment; 12,000 households in 2007 up from 9,000 in 1999. Whilst part time and seasonal jobs have been created wages remain below the regional average.

This is a damming indictment of Labour's policies to create new jobs and to tackle poverty.

A new approach is needed that deals with the root causes and not just the symptoms. The Conservative approach takes into account the importance of families, communities and incentives to work.

We shall take effective action by:

Supporting families, ending the couple penalty in the tax credits system;.

Welfare reform, every claimant potentially able to work should be engaged in full-time activity as part of the back-to-work process, including mandatory community work for the long-term unemployed;

School reform, making more money available for children from the poorest backgrounds through a “pupil premium”, ensuring that extra funds follow those pupils to the school that educates them;

A rehabilitation revolution, reforming the prison service to end the cycle of re-offending;

Health visitors, provision of a universal health visiting service to all parents.

These figures are proof, if proof is needed, that Gordon Brown and his government have run out of steam and have run out of ideas. There is a need for change and a different approach.

PETER ALDOUS

Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Waveney

Wissett