Jobless young people in Keighley can find out about the government's New Deal during a special meeting today. Keighley MP Ann Cryer will chair a panel of experts offering advice to unemployed 18-24-year-olds eligible for the scheme.

New Deal aims to take youngsters off the dole by involving them in training, education, voluntary work or environmental projects. Many jobless young people have been personally invited to the introductory meeting at 2pm in Keighley College's Swire Smith Hall. But others are welcome to attend with members of their families, and ask questions about how New Deal will affect them.

The panel will include Keighley Voluntary Services co-ordinator Chris Huggins and representatives from the college, Employment Service and Benefits Agency.

Mrs Cryer, who regards New Deal as a 'very important venture', organised the meeting to ensure jobless people understood how they could be helped.

She says that everything her Labour government will introduce in the next few years stands or falls on getting people back into work.

She adds: "Once we get the economy moving, the government will be able to invest in the NHS, education and local authority provision. I recognise it will take a long time for the government's investment in New Deal and Welfare to Work to feed into the economy. The increased spending power of those people helped into real jobs will eventually create an upward spiral of success."

Mrs Cryer says employers have an important role not only in facilitating training but in providing permanent jobs.

"I am confident the employers of Keighley will be able to support this challenge," she says.

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