The Archbishop of Canterbury recently joined Reverend Matthew Barnes of St Thomas’ Church, Brampton and dozens of local people for the official opening of the fantastic £1 million eco centre. Toby Perkins, Labour Member of Parliament for Chesterfield met with the Archbishop and Reverend Barnes for the opening and discussed prominent issues facing Chesterfield and the country following Mr. Williams’ well publicized article in the New Statesman.

The MP, and newly appointed Business, Innovation and Skills Minister highlighted his concerns regarding youth unemployment and the need to drive forward comprehensive apprentiship schemes across the county and the whole of the UK.

With the latest figures showing youth unemployment at a horrific 991,000, with the axing of Education Maintenance Allowance and the tripling of Tuition Fees to around £9,000, young people have felt the full force of the Government’s austerity campaign. Mr. Perkins emphasized that more must be done to engage young people in the political system, to invest in schools and training programmes, and for businesses to roll out proven apprenteship schemes.

After the event Mr. Perkins said:-

“It was a real privilege to meet with the Archbishop of Canterbury in Chesterfield at this impressive new eco centre. I have no doubt that this facility will be a great asset to both St Thomas’ and the wider community”.

He added:-

“After reading the Archbishop’s article in the New Statesman in which he highlighted the problems facing young people,  I wanted to discuss with him the situation facing thousands of youngsters in this town who are not in work or training. This Government has declared war on the aspirations of our young people. Everyone but Nick Clegg and David Cameron recognize that the damage the Government’s obsession with deficit reduction at the cost of youngsters all across the UK. More must be done to provide a brighter future for so many relying on Government driven growth, not left exposed to market forces”.