Unemployment programme fails to spend its budget

A government programme aimed at getting people into work has failed to spend the money it was granted.

Train to Gain received a budget of £520million so it could tackle the town’s increasing problem of unemployment, but it has been revealed today (Tuesday 13 January) that it has under-spent by £200 million during the year of 2007-2008.

According to the Rochdale Liberal Democrats, it is the second year the programme has under-spent. Last year it failed to spent £100million it was granted.

The unused Train to Gain money was instead used to plug a hole in overspending on university grants.

Paul Rowen, MP for Rochdale, said that: “In today’s current economic situation it is important for the Government to invest in programmes that are cost-effective and produce first-class results. It would seem that Train to Gain does neither and is a drain on resources. Therefore I have to decide to question this scheme in the House of Commons”.