WORKING ON THE DOLE QUEUE

24-10-2007

It was revealed earlier this month that West Midlands Minister Liam Byrne has the country's largest gathering of NEETS in the country - ie youngsters not in education, employment or training. Barbara Panvel reckons we've all got some work to do.

A youth unemployment 'crisis' in Birmingham was dramatically reported recently week - spin! In the areas mentioned high unemployment in all age groups has been a fact of life in for many years - and largely ignored.

Conservatives claimed that government is responsible, but little effort has been made to do anything about it by Birmingham's MPs or councils - whether Conservative or Labour-led.

Council attention has been focussed on prestige 'iconic' projects - not on addressing chronic unemployment which leads to demoralisation: the passive and hopeless turn to legal or illegal drugs, the active and resentful turn to vandalism, theft and violence.

Central government has showered money on an illegal war, the nuclear industry, the manufacture and export of arms and shackles, whilst joining the World Trade Organisation which, directly and indirectly through the European Union, demands that countries import food and goods they could well provide for themselves.

Are spending decisions being made in the best interests of Birmingham citizens?

If the latest expensive plan for a new Central Library is carried out probably more than £200m will be spent in producing serious air-pollution, as a building appreciated by many is demolished.

It will also add hugely to the city's carbon emissions as - at a distance - construction materials for the new building are mined, transported and processed.

Routine maintenance of the Central Library, which is said to have been neglected for years, should be resumed. Gradual expansion and refurbishment as needed, fulfilling the original landscape design wherever possible, would meet the needs of the people MPs and councillors are elected to serve.

Before embarking expensive & eye-catching projects, every effort should be made to address the needs of the city's neglected citizens. If funds were redirected to ensuring small classes in their schools, educational standards would soar.

Apprenticeships should return, as should a Co-operative Development Agency as productive as Coventry & Warwickshire CDA, which not only enables the setting up of small co-operative businesses but gives ongoing support until they are established.

Effective demand for goods and services is needed in a stable and thriving economy. To promote this, individuals, council procurement officers, administrators of schools, hospitals, businesses and prisons will have to realise that buying goods made in this country is as vitally important as the buying of its food.

If they do this, there will eventually be worthwhile work for all.

If not, 'lifestyle diseases', arson, theft, vandalism, violence and gun-killings will continue to rise, damaging both the poor and the affluent, living in the city's hinterland.