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Brown: 'Active government' required

Date: 24/1/2010 11:41:17

Search: Gordon Brown podcast

Prime Minister Gordon Brown is to insist that "active government" can help Britain weather the recession, keep unemployment down and provide a fair and prosperous society for the future.

In a podcast on the Downing Street website, Mr Brown will highlight initiatives the Government is taking this week, including a £125 million innovation fund for industry and a jobs and training guarantee for young people.

In a foretaste of one of the key dividing lines between Labour and the Tories in the coming general election, he will say: "What is increasingly clear is that determined and active government can and does make a difference."

Mr Brown's positive message comes days ahead of the release on Tuesday of official statistics expected to show that Britain's GDP is back in growth after six quarters of contraction.

And it follows last week's figures which showed monthly drop of 7,000 in unemployment and a fall in crime, which he will describe as as "encouraging" signs that his interventionist approach is having results.

The Innovation Fund - first announced in June last year and due to be put into effect on Tuesday - is designed to lever in private money to support the skilled jobs of the future in high-tech, low-carbon industries.

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Mr Brown will say that it demonstrates "our commitment to the industries and the technologies that will create the skilled jobs of the future". He will say: "This fund - seeded by government - brings private venture capital to growing enterprises, providing an initial £125 million of funding to high-tech, low carbon businesses."

And he will highlight the Young Person's Guarantee to help the jobless, announced in Alistair Darling's Pre-Budget Report last month and being rolled out from Monday.

"We will guarantee education or training for everyone up to 18 and - from Monday - a job, work placement or training for all 18 to 24 year old who is out of work for six months," he will say.

"This will give thousands a foot on the career ladder and important workplace skills, and will be funded from a one-off tax on bankers' bonuses. So, just as we endeavour to get through the present tough times with the least possible damage to businesses, to homeowners and to communities, we are also concentrating on building a platform for the future."

2012 © Press Association

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