A SUMMIT meeting to get hundreds of local young people back into jobs is being held in Bury.

The borough's two MPs, David Chaytor and Ivan Lewis , want to make sure Bury is among the first to implement Labour's Welfare to Work scheme once money becomes available.

Council leaders have welcomed the meeting, but want to see more details of how Welfare to Work will actually work.

Earlier this year, councillors voted to boycott the Tories' Project Work scheme, which compelled jobless people to take six months' work experience for an extra £10 on top of their dole money.

Representatives of local businesses, voluntary groups, the employment service and the TEC have been invited to the meeting at Bury Town Hall on Monday, July 21.

Bury North MP David Chaytor said: "We are determined the people of Bury will not miss out on opportunities presented by central government initiatives.

"We are pressing for a strategy involving all the relevant local agencies and businesses so that we are ready to act as soon as resources become available."

Ivan Lewis, MP for Bury South, said: "We have a real opportunity to get local young people off the dole and into work, tackle the tragedy of long-term unemployment and assist lone parents who would welcome help in gaining access to the jobs market." The MP said the Welfare to Work programme could help the local community as well as providing hope for jobs.

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