Labour calls for Thames Tunnel to help create jobs to tackle youth unemployment

Labour tabled amendments in the House of Commons on Wednesday 14th March to ensure the Government uses the Thames Tunnel project to deliver apprenticeships and jobs for young Londoners.

4,000 jobs will be created directly by the commissioning of the Thames Tunnel project to build new sewage capacity for London, and at least double that number indirectly. Labour tabled amendments to the Water Industry (Financial Assistance) Bill at its Committee Stage on Wednesday to make the call for apprenticeships and higher level skills to be written into the contract for the project.

The amendment was discussed on the day that the latest unemployment figures showed that over 1 million young people are unemployed. The government defeated the amendments. 

Mary Creagh, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary, said: “The Thames Tunnel will be a huge infrastructure project. With further bad news on youth unemployment expected today, Labour is calling on the government to ensure that young Londoners get a fare share of the 4,000 jobs the Tunnel will deliver. This is a real opportunity to help guarantee apprenticeships and higher level skills.”

Read the debate here