UNEMPLOYMENT has risen steeply in York and the surrounding areas, prompting fresh attacks on Government economic policies.

The new monthly figures, released today, show the number of people claiming the Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) rose by 248 (7.4 per cent) in York between December and January to 3,603 - 2.6 per cent of the workforce, and the highest the figure has been for 12 months.

In East Yorkshire, the number of claimants rose to 7,531 - the highest recorded figure since January 1997. There were also rises in Selby, North Yorkshire as a whole, Hambleton, Harrogate and Ryedale, where there was an 11 per cent rise from 672 to 748.

The increases between December and January reflect the pattern in previous years, but James Alexander, leader of City of York Council, also blamed the Government for York’s increase.

He said: “The Government’s economic policy is hurting but not working, as cuts without growth is a recipe for disaster.

“In York the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance increased by 248 last month. This will only be exacerbated by the council having to make cuts due to reductions in Government funding.”

But Greg Knight, Conservative MP for East Yorkshire, said the banks were to blame, for failing to lend to small businesses.

He said many had failed to keep promises to do so and called on the Government to do more to persuade them to act.

He added: “It does not wash to say David Cameron is to blame for this, because the whole world is in this position.

“Spending more money we do not have is not the way out - it is the way of Britain following Greece.” He said many of East Yorkshire’s job losses were due to the seasonal nature of many tourism jobs.

Coun Mark Crane, leader of Selby District Council, said: “The council will continue to work with partners and the private sector to try and bring jobs to Selby and the Tesco development in the centre of town is a very big positive at the moment. There’s no timescale for it at the minute, but I believe they’re talking about 100 jobs.”

He added: “If we can open places like Selby Business Park for new businesses who want to start off without being so restrictive then potentially that gives us new jobs for people in the district.”

In York, the percentage of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance ranged from 0.2 per cent in Heslington to five per cent in Westfield. In East Riding, it ranged from 1.7 per cent in Wolds Weighton to 10.2 per cent in Bridlington South. In Ryedale, it ranged from 0.6 per cent in Ampleforth to 4.1 per cent in Malton.

Quarterly figures also released today showed unemployment in Yorkshire and Humber fell by 10,000 in the final three months of 2011.

The Office for National Statistics figures showed that 264,000 people were unemployed in the region between October and December.

York Press: Unemployment figures January 2012 • The national unemployment rate is four per cent and 4.9 per cent in Yorkshire and Humber.