Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, has welcomed the fall in the national and local figures for unemployment. The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the Chipping Barnet constituency in December 2013 was 1,522. This represents a rate of 2.7% of the economically active population aged 16 to 64, and is 506 lower than in December 2012 and 55 lower than in November 2013. The national rate of unemployment has fallen to 7.1%.
Ms Villiers said, "I warmly welcome this latest drop in unemployment in my constituency. The national figures are also very encouraging, with the largest ever quarterly increase in the number of people in work. Every one of those jobs means another person taking home a pay packet and able to provide for their families."
"I know that times are still tough for many hardworking households but today's figures are further evidence that the Conservative-led government's long term economic plan is working and the economy is on the road to recovery."