Bridget Phillipson Labour Member of Parliament for Houghton and Sunderland South
Houghton and Sunderland South MP, Bridget Phillipson, has called on the government to support lifelong learning after new figures reveal the north east has only 3.69 per cent of its economically active population registered as users of the National Careers Service.
The National Careers Service is the government’s flagship scheme offering independent advice and information for those who need it most to help drive growth in our country’s labour market.
| Area | Figure (total economically active population) (3) | % of population signed up to the service |
| North East | 49,097 (1,329,000) | 3.69 per cent |
| East of England | 100,640 (3,148,000) | 3.19 per cent |
| London | 123,175 (4,368,000) | 2.81 per cent |
| East Midlands | 126,910 (2,325,000) | 5.45 per cent |
| North West | 146,272 (3,466,000) | 4.22 per cent |
| South East | 169,217 (4,601,000) | 3.67 per cent |
| South West | 96,067 (2,753,000) | 3.48 per cent |
| West Midlands | 125,675 (2,732,000) | 4.60 per cent |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 107,932 (2,784,000) | 3.87 per cent |
Bridget Phillipson MP said:
“Lifelong learning plays an important role in driving economic growth and providing new opportunities and careers. It’s an important part of any government’s plan to get our economy back on track.
“The government needs to do more to raise awareness of the National Careers Service
“I will be writing to the Minister to ask him what plans he has to increase the numbers of people in the north east using the service.”