RISING unemployment is an enormously worrying effect of the financial troubles facing Britain and Europe.

As the Prime Minister has said, every job lost is a tragedy for the individual and their family.

In East Lancashire and some other parts of the country, the majority of people finding themselves workless and having to join the dole queue in the latest set of unemployment figures are women.

Teenagers, many still to have sight of their first wage packet, are also suffering disproportionately.

Decades ago, some people might have argued that female employment was less important because women were not ‘the main breadwinners’.

Whatever the truth then, it is certainly not the case today.

A huge number of households rely on two incomes to pay the bills and feed the family, particularly in an area like ours where wages are below the national average.

The big problem is how this downward spiral in living standards is going to be turned around.

Here in East Lancashire, where we have traditionally suffered more unemployment than most, there is an urgent need for greater support in getting people into worthwhile work.