A new focus on reducing worklessness is highlighted in the latest regeneration circular, issued by the CLG last week . The consultative report Transforming places, changing lives marks a shift in regeneration strategy. It aims to ensure the £13bn investment in regeneration 2007-2011 focuses on ‘tackling the underlying economic challenges' in deprived areas, ‘in particular, supporting people to get a job and get on the labour market.' Communities secretary, Hazel Blears, said: ‘It's not just about giving buildings a facelift. If you deal with pockets of unemployment, improvements in crime rates and people's health will follow. ‘And getting a job and more skills can give people real power and control of their lives.' More than 20% of those on incapacity benefit or job-seekers allowance live in the most deprived areas in England, and one aim is to reduce the £5.8bn welfare bill. Currently, 1.4m of the population are unemployed, and a further 6.5m ‘economically inactive', including 2.7m on incapacity benefit. The report says its key targets are to improve economic performance in deprived areas and increase employment rates.
