Work and Pension Secretary Mel Stride said the latest employment statistics are "a step in the right direction." The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics revealed unemployment rose and wage growth slowed in the three months to January. However, Mr Stride pointed out: "We've still got a record level of payroll employment and we're seeing real wages rising for the eighth month in succession. This is really because our plan is working." Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
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00:00 Well I think these are a good set of numbers. We've still got a record level of payroll
00:04 employment. We're seeing real wages rising for the eighth month in succession and economic
00:11 inactivity down on the month. So that puts us still below the levels in the United States,
00:16 France, Italy and other major competitors. And this is really because our plan is working.
00:21 So we've got inflation down, we're cutting taxes, the Chancellor reduced national insurance
00:26 so we're going to be seeing those on an average salary gaining £900 this year compared to
00:32 last year. It's going to generate the OBR says 200,000 additional jobs as well. So I
00:38 think it's all evidence that our plan is working and we're moving in the right direction.