George recently visited the Job Centre at Redruth for an update on the local situation as far as employment is concerned and the roll out of the new Universal Credit. Unemployment is at its lowest level since the early 70's and is now significantly below the national average here in Camborne and Redruth. The total number of unemployed claimants for June 2018 was 840. This represented a rate of 2.1% of the economically active population aged 16-64, lower than the equivalent UK average claimant rate of 2.8%.

The new Universal Credit is a much more flexible and simpler benefit. It combines all the old complex benefits of the past into a single payment. It always pays to take more hours or a higher paid job to earn more and support is withdrawn gradually in a tapered way. If someone's hours change again then support automatically kicks back in without having to fill in new forms again. It's a scheme that is working well for claimants.

George said, "Reforming the welfare system and supporting people back into work go hand in hand. For too long, too many people were left languishing on benefits and trapped in a life of poverty. Helping them go back to work has been one of the primary objectives of the Government in recent years and the results are showing."