A GENERATION risks being scarred by stubbornly high long-term and youth unemployment in Barnsley, says an MP.

Barnsley East MP Michael Dugher is calling for action after the latest unemployment statistics were released which showed the number of 18 to 24-year-olds out of work for more than a year in Barnsley had shot up by 93 per cent to 510.

Youth unemployment in the town now stands at 2,410, although the total number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance fell slightly from 7,535 in October 2012 to 7,465 in November 2012.

This was still a lot higher than a year ago when the total figure was 6,820.

Mr Dugher said that in his own constituency, the number of people claiming JSA for more than 12 months was now 910, up from 585 a year ago.

Mr Dugher said:  "The Government’s welfare to work programmes are clearly not working and it is time for ministers to get a grip before a generation is left scarred by their failure."

Mr Dugher said ministers could take action to help, such as introducing a tax on bankers' bonuses to fund 100,000 youth jobs and a tax break for small firms taking on extra workers.

They should also introduce a "Real Jobs Guarantee" scheme for young people.

This would provide a six-month paid placement, preferably in the private sector, for all 18-24 year olds who have been unemployed for more than 12 months.