SIR – Further to Coun Pennington’s question to me (Letters, March 20), I am happy to talk about the achievements of Bradford Labour in tackling unemployment. Our efforts locally are against a backdrop of Government failure to address the national social catastrophe of youth unemployment which has increased by a third since his Government came to power.

Bradford Labour’s Get Bradford Working programme is funded not just by the Council but also partners like Incommunities and JobCentre Plus. The Employment Opportunities Fund (EOF) is just one programme within Get Bradford Working. It provides minimum wage, temporary work placements for people who need fresh work experience – it’s easier to find a job once you’re in a job. To date, well over 50 per cent of EOF participants have found a job post placement. This is far higher than the 18.7 per cent achieved by the national Work programme.

It’s disappointing to hear a question to me from Coun Pennington for the first time in the pages of a newspaper. I am happy to meet him to discuss the programme. He could also meet some EOF participants who are now in work – and only then do you really understand what a difference it has made to people’s lives.

Coun Susan Hinchcliffe, Ward Councillor (Labour) Windhill & Wrose, Portfolio Holder Employment, Skills & Culture, Bradford Council, c/o City Hall, Bradford