Sylvia Heal, MP for Halesowen and Rowley Regis, has welcomed this week's news that unemployment has fallen in recent months.

The West Midlands has seen the number of claimants aged 18-24 fall by 500 between November and December 2009 and in Halesowen and Rowley Regis there has also been a reduction in unemployment.

Sylvia Heal MP said: "This week's unemployment figures are really encouraging news for the British economy and Halesowen and Rowley Regis. The small drop in the number of unemployed across the constituency shows that we are moving in the right direction and that the Government measures are beginning to make an impact, helping people into work through guarantees to young people and expanding support from Jobcentre Plus.

"Unemployment is lower than predicted and it is this Labour Government who have shown they are prepared to take tough action to help people get through this difficult time. It is a stark comparison to the Tory recessions of the 1980s and 90s, this is highlighted by the fact that unemployment in Sandwell and Dudley is 33% lower than it was during the last recession in 1992."