LEDBURY'S MP, Bill Wiggin, has defended the latest unemployment figures for his North Herefordshire constituency and the country
The latest figures, released by the Office of National Statistics this week, show the number of unemployed claimants in Mr Wiggin's constituency in December 2015 was 391, which is a rise of 4 from November 2015 but a fall of 73 compared with December 2014.
He said: “Employment in December 2015 reached a record high of 74.0 per cent, with the majority of the increase in employment over the last year in full-time jobs.
"Wages are also continuing to grow strongly, with average total pay up 2 per cent, while inflation is close to flat."
Mr Wiggin added: "Each new job is a worker and their family with the security of a pay packet, as we continue to work to deliver security for families here in North Herefordshire and across the UK."
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