Pre-budget update 3

Dec 9 2009 By Andrew Mernin

Support for mortgage interest payments for the unemployed to be extended for a further six months.

Unemployment in the UK will keep rising for some time and promoting employment remains a top priority for the Government.

Guarantees of a place for every 16 and 17 year-old in education or training to be available to school-leavers again in September 2010.

From next month, no-one under 24 needs to be unemployed for longer than six months - down from the current 12 months - before being guaranteed work or training.