Hendon’s MP believes government apprenticeship policies are behind a fall in unemployment rates among young people in the constituency.

Matthew Offord asked the cabinet office for a comparison of unemployment figures between May 2010, the date of the last general election, and January of this year.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics showed the number of people aged between 18 and 24 claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance in May 2010 was 535.

In January of this year, that fell to 425.

The information is available to anyone on the ONS website but Mr Offord said it was important to put it on public record in the House of Commons.

He said: “Unemployment was rife under the previous government and I said I was keen to keep on top of it and keep the Government on top of it.

“I think the apprenticeships schemes from central government have helped and we need to keep the pressure on.

“It is about aspirations and giving people opportunities and it is something I feel strongly about as an MP.”

Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer is holding a jobs fair at the Green Man Community Centre, in East Finchley, between 10am and 4pm tomorrow – anyone is welcome to attend.