Labour's achievements
in Ryedale

Britain is working with two million more jobs and unemployment at its lowest level since 1975. With a record number of people in work we’ve reached a major milestone in our journey as a Labour government to deliver full employment in every part of Britain.


The main achievements:

• Long-term unemployment has fallen by over 85 per cent since 1997
• The number of infants in classes of more than 30 in North Yorkshire has fallen from 1,221 to 93 (September 1999 vs. September 2002)
• There are 658 more nurses and 116 more GPs in the local area than in 1997
• Spending less on debt interest and the costs of unemployment has meant we've had more money to invest in public services
  
  
  Ryedale is working
  
  
• Britain now has the highest employment and lowest unemployment of any of the major (G8) world economies.
• Unemployment has fallen by 759 since 1997. That’s a 61.8 per cent drop in unemployment in the constituency since 1997
• 910 people in the constituency have found work through the New Deal
• In the Yorkshire and the Humber region 263 new businesses started up on average every week
  
  
  An opportunity economy
  For Britain to continue to be successful we need to ensure that every individual has the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
  

• With the assistance of the Education
• Maintenance Allowance 2010 more young people are being helped to stay on in education in North Yorkshire Local Education Authority which covers Ryedale
• Standards are up. In the constituency 64 per cent of young people gained five or more GCSEs at grade A* to C last year - that's 8.0 per cent more than in 1997.
• More apprenticeships mean young people have the opportunity to gain skills whilst in work, helping business in Ryedale fulfil much needed skills gaps.
  
  
  Helping hard working families
  Today’s families face competing pressures as they strive to balance work and family life. Labour understands that flexible and affordable childcare is essential for working parents trying to achieve that balance.
  
  
• Every three and four year- old in the constituency is guaranteed a free part-time nursery place. Already 11,000 children in the North Yorkshire Local Education Authority, which covers Ryedale, have benefited from the scheme.
• 6,600 people have benefited from the Labour’s Tax Credits in the constituency
• In the Yorkshire and the Humber region at least 180,000 people benefited from the most recent rise in the National Minimum wage helping
  Ryedale families.
  
  
  Welfare to Work
  The Government has introduced measures to make work pay and help people from welfare to work. In Ryedale:
  
  
• Claimant unemployment has fallen by over 50 per cent since 1997
• Long-term unemployment has fallen by over 85 per cent since 1997
• The New Deal for 18 to 24-year-olds has helped to cut long-term youth unemployment by over a half since 1997
• An estimated 130,000 people in the Yorkshire and The Humber region stand to benefit from the National Minimum Wage
• Over 1,100 Ryedale families are benefiting from the Working Families' Tax Credit
• Increases in Child Benefit are benefiting over 5,000 families in Ryedale
  
  
  Education
  We are committed to raising standards, better discipline and increasing choice. In Ryedale:
  
  
• Average funding per pupil in North Yorkshire has increased in real terms by £620 since 1997/8
• Standards are improving. Since 1997/8, in North Yorkshire the number of 11-year-olds achieving the required standard in English has risen from 71% to 80% and gone up from 67% to 77% in Maths
• The number of infants in classes of more than 30 in North Yorkshire has fallen from 1,221 to 93 (September 1999 vs. September 2002)
• There are 452 more teachers in North Yorkshire than in 1998
• The number of 15-year-old pupils in maintained schools in North Yorkshire achieving 5 or more GCSEs at grades A* to C (or equivalent) has risen from 56% to 59% since 1997/8
• The National Childcare Strategy has helped to create almost 7,900 more childcare places in North Yorkshire than in 1998
  
  
  Health
  We are committed to faster treatment, higher standards and better patient experience in the NHS. In Ryedale:
  
  
• Funding for the former North Yorkshire Health Authority increased from £513m to £567m between 2001/2 and 2002/3 - This is part of a £263m increase overall between 1997/8 and 2002/3
• There are 658 more nurses and 116 more GPs in the local Strategic Health Authority area than in 1997
  
  
  Crime
  We are committed to driving down crime, and creating safer streets and stronger communities
  
  
• There are 54 more police officers in the North Yorkshire force than in September 2001 - part of a 61 officer increase since 1997
  
  
  Social inclusion
  We've announced a major package of aid to boost pensioner incomes. In Ryedale this means:
  
  
• Over 11,000 pensioners have seen the biggest rise in basic state pension for a generation
• Every pensioner also gets a free bus pass entitling them to bus travel at half fare or less
• 4,700 pensioners aged 75 or over are eligible for free TV licences (one per household)
• Nearly 13,000 pensioners got the winter fuel payment last winter worth £200 per household