YOUTH unemployment levels have more than halved in York in the last five years, according to official figures released today.

Municipal workers union GMB told members levels have fallen by 50.5 per cent to 469 since Labour came to power in 1997.

It gives the city the lowest unemployment rate in Yorkshire.

Paul Kenny, the GMB's senior regional secretary, told the young members' conference: "The Labour Government in its first term levied the windfall tax to finance the New Deal Programme to tackle youth unemployment, which had rocketed during the 1990s.

"This report shows that, in some areas, youth unemployment has more than halved. The Labour movement can be justly proud of this record."

The city's economic chiefs today claimed the reduction was due to a concentrated effort to set up agencies in York to get people into work.

Tony Bennett, the city's assistant director of economic development, said: "Things like Job Centre Plus, York Training Centre and Future Prospects have made sure that the infrastructure in place in the city is very strong, and the New Deal for Young People has also had an effect."

Councillor Bob Scrase, City of York Council's economic development spokesman, said: "Working together the council, employers, trainers and other agencies have halved the number of young people out of work, while bringing new jobs to York and supporting training and education make a difference to everyone's quality of life."

Councillor John Galvin, City of York Council's Conservative group leader, said: "If this is true, we would welcome it, but reiterate that it isn't entirely down to the success of Labour.

"The Labour Government inherited an extremely successful economy from the Conservatives."

Updated: 12:20 Friday, November 01, 2002