PM 'to create 100,000 new jobs' - 4th Jan 2009 6:30am
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has revealed details of a programme to create 100,000 jobs as part of a new initiative to curb rising unemployment.
Mr Brown told The Observer of a programme of investment in new technologies and green projects.
He said improving the environment was part of the solution to the recession.
The government plans to bring forward £10bn of spending on public works, digital technology and environmental projects to create new jobs.
Investments will be made in eco-friendly projects such as electric cars and wind and wave power, which will create jobs.
Some 30,000 jobs are to be created in school repairs, in an attempt to help private construction firms who have suffered in the economic downturn.
Mr Brown also claimed his plans would be bigger than the multi-billion dollar "Green New Deal" planned by US president-elect Barack Obama.
"I want to show how we will be able, through public investments and public works, to create probably 100,000 additional jobs over the next period of time in our capital investment programme - schools, hospitals, environmental work and infrastructure, transport," Mr Brown said.
"We are not going to stand by and allow nothing to be done when people are facing difficulties."
But the prime minister also played down the likelihood of a further bailout for the banks, saying it is not the first thing on any agenda.
He is touring the country this week before a jobs summit involving government, business and unions, and says a further expansion of apprenticeships is also planned.
BBC political correspondent Carole Walker says with unemployment at its highest level for more than a decade and many workers facing an uncertain future, Mr Brown is keen to demonstrate a new focus on the problem.
But putting more taxpayers money into the banks would be politically risky, our correspondent added.
The Conservatives say another bailout would be an admission that the government's approach to the recession is not working.
Mr Brown told The Observer of a programme of investment in new technologies and green projects.
He said improving the environment was part of the solution to the recession.
The government plans to bring forward £10bn of spending on public works, digital technology and environmental projects to create new jobs.
Investments will be made in eco-friendly projects such as electric cars and wind and wave power, which will create jobs.
Some 30,000 jobs are to be created in school repairs, in an attempt to help private construction firms who have suffered in the economic downturn.
Mr Brown also claimed his plans would be bigger than the multi-billion dollar "Green New Deal" planned by US president-elect Barack Obama.
"I want to show how we will be able, through public investments and public works, to create probably 100,000 additional jobs over the next period of time in our capital investment programme - schools, hospitals, environmental work and infrastructure, transport," Mr Brown said.
"We are not going to stand by and allow nothing to be done when people are facing difficulties."
But the prime minister also played down the likelihood of a further bailout for the banks, saying it is not the first thing on any agenda.
He is touring the country this week before a jobs summit involving government, business and unions, and says a further expansion of apprenticeships is also planned.
BBC political correspondent Carole Walker says with unemployment at its highest level for more than a decade and many workers facing an uncertain future, Mr Brown is keen to demonstrate a new focus on the problem.
But putting more taxpayers money into the banks would be politically risky, our correspondent added.
The Conservatives say another bailout would be an admission that the government's approach to the recession is not working.
