10/09/2009 - VAT cut 'pointless' - Lib Dems
The Liberal Democrats have called for the immediate scrapping of the VAT cut in order to pay for measures designed to rescue young people from long-term structural unemployment.
Describing the slash from 17.5 per cent to 15 per cent as "pointless", party leader Nick Clegg said the money could have been used to provide those aged 16 to 24 with paid internships of £55 per week at no cost to any of the companies involved - their only obligation being to help with CV writing.
Mr Clegg said the scheme would help tackle the real fear of current youngsters becoming a "jobless generation".
He also called on the Government to guarantee work, education or training for people who had been out of work for three months, rather than the current length of 10, adding that 60,000 more university and college courses should be temporarily funded to meet the demand likely to occur from such a move.
Copyright © Press Association 2009
Related links
|
