NEW figures showing that there are 36,985 fewer children in workless households in the South West since 2010 have been welcomed by West Devon’s MP.

The number of children living in households with no-one working is at a record low, meaning fewer children are living in families without the security of work.

Overall, throughout Britain the number of workless households is down 964,000 since 2010, with the proportion of workless households now at its lowest level since records began in 1996.

MP for West Devon and Torridge Geoffrey Cox said it was encouraging:

‘Government support for businesses has seen employment increased by over three-million since 2010 and reforms to welfare and the personal tax allowance afford more families the security of a decent, regular pay packet, while ensuring that people are always better off in work,’ he said.