Cameron attacks Government's work to limit the recession

Employers will get up to £2,500 for every unemployed person they recruit. The "golden hello", intended to encourage firms to train people who have been out of work for more than six months, is part of a £500 million package to support the long-term unemployed. The emergency measures were unveiled at a jobs summit hosted by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, bringing together major employers, unions and welfare experts. Plans are still being worked up to improve the flow of credit in the economy, including government guarantees for loans to businesses. The heads of the UK's biggest banks invited to lunch at the Prime Minister's country retreat Chequers on Sunday, fuelling expectations that further measures to get them lending are imminent. Lloyds TSB chief executive Eric Daniels and Barclays chairman Marcus Agius were among the guests, who were also joined by Chancellor Alistair Darling. The latest aid plans are said to include official insurance for securitisations of mortgages and other loans. The Prime Minister told the summit: "We will do everything we can to prevent the global recession turning into a global depression, prevent short-term unemployment turning into long-term unemployment, and to prevent losing your job meaning losing your home. "My message is simple - we won't give up on you, but in turn you must not give up on work, on skills and on training." Mr Brown said anyone losing their job will be able to access help and support on the first day. "We estimate that with this guarantee of extra financial support, we will be able to help 500,000 people into work or work-focused training over the next two years. "I believe we can help families through the downturn and secure our future competitiveness in a global economy. "We are determined that Britain can lead the world to help the unemployed and create the jobs of the future. I believe we can do this by working in partnership. Britain works best when we work together." 'White collar' staff in management and consultancy have been the biggest victims of the recession so far, new figures show. Between June and November, the Insolvency Service received notifications of 22,038 redundancies at head offices in the management and consultancy sector - an average of 848 a week - according to Freedom of Information data. Labour MP Frank Field said Mr Brown's efforts were being "completely undermined" by the Government's immigration policy, saying: "It is unbelievable that we allow non-EU economic immigrants to come to look for work, or to take up jobs for which British unemployed people have not had the chance to apply."

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ITN | January 12, 2009

Tags:. .securitisations. .tsb. .fuelling. .unemployed. .imminent