I have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne after new figures reveal more than 40 unemployed people in Camberwell and Peckham are chasing every job vacancy.  The figures show a steep rise in the number of unemployed people chasing each job vacancy - with Camberwell and Peckham one of the worst hit areas in the UK.

The ratio of job seekers to job vacancies in Camberwell and Peckham has tripled in the last year.  And at the same time the Tory/Lib Dem government has stood by while executive pay has soared 32% new figures reveal. 

This year the government cut funding to Southwark Council by £29 million.  It is deeply unfair that, in comparison, wealthy boroughs like Richmond-upon-Thames are being protected with their funding cut by less than £1m.

The government must act to cut unemployment.  The Tory/Lib Dem coalition are cutting public finances and public sector jobs too far, too fast and damaging our economy.  The coalition cuts are unfair and the new figures on job vacancies show how the government cuts are disproportionally affecting Camberwell and Peckham.

Text of my letter to George Osborne

Dear George,

I am writing on behalf of my constituents in Camberwell and Peckham who are disproportionally affected by government cuts that are harming the economy.

Analysis has revealed more than 40 unemployed people from Camberwell and Peckham are chasing every job vacancy.   Nationally the ratio of Job Seeker's Allowance claimants to Jobcentre vacancies has risen from 5.2 claimants in May 2010 to 6.3 this year, but for Camberwell and Peckham this figure has increased threefold.  At the same time your government has stood by while executive pay has soared 32%.

Clearly job seekers are not limited to the job market within constituency boundaries but there are greater barriers to employment when people cannot find work close to home. 

And as I am sure you are aware, the number of people claiming Job Seeker's Allowance in the borough of Southwark has risen for the fifth consecutive month.

This year the government cut funding to Southwark Council by £29 million.  It is deeply unfair that, in comparison, wealthy boroughs like Richmond-upon-Thames are being protected with their funding cut by less than £1m.

Your coalition government is cutting too far, too fast and damaging the economy and the cuts are unfair.  You must act now to lower unemployment and the impact of your cuts disproportionally affecting people in Camberwell and Peckham. 

Yours sincerely

Harriet Harman MP