News

Recent falls in unemployment showed a slowdown in the last three months, with the rate now at 7.2% or 2.34 million people.

125,000 fewer people were unemployed in October to December, but the fall was slower than in recent months, suggesting that the economic recovery may be losing steam.

There are now 30.15 million people in work, 72.1% of the working age population.

Unlike in recent months, the employment number did not set a new record, further proof that growth may be slowing.

Wolverhampton City Council is to cut 2,000 jobs, it has revealed.

The number represents one in every five people it employs, but the local authority says it has to make this tough decision due to the coalition's cut to its grant.

Although local government can raise money directly through council tax, the central grant from Westminster forms the majority of its income.

Andrew Johnson, cabinet member for resources, said: "We have lost a huge proportion of the main source of our income, which is the grant from the government. That's why we have to make these job cuts.

The Conservative party is advising its MPs and local associations on how to avoid paying the minimum wage, the BBC is reporting.

It takes its information from a document leaked to careers blog Graduate Fog, which deals with the issues involved in using interns and tries to help the party dodge the costs involved in employing them.

Two-thirds of households hit by the bedroom tax are in rent arrears.

The shock findings of the National Housing Federation (NHF), which represents the UK's housing associations, show that more than a third had fallen into debt because of the charge.

It used polling firm Ipsos-Mori to survey 183 associations, and the firm found that thousands could simply not cope with the change.

The bedroom tax takes an average of £14 per week from the benefits of those with a bedroom they don't use, and £25 from those with two.