AN MP whose constituency is set to suffer another jobs blow has said only 80 people in the area have been unemployed for longer than 12 months.

Phil Wilson, MP for Sedgefield, in County Durham, claimed the figure was proof the Government was “getting something right” in its efforts to get people back to work.

The MP had been commenting on the closure of the Schott glass plant, in Newton Aycliffe, which he described as “very disappointing”.

German firm Schott said the factory, which makes glass for oven doors and cooker tops, was making significant losses and it had no viable alternative but to close it by the end of the year, with the loss of 151 jobs.

Mr Wilson conceded that unemployment had risen rapidly in his constituency, with Schott the latest manufacturer in a long line to axe jobs at Newton Aycliffe, home to the North-East’s second biggest industrial estate.

He said: “This is very disappointing news for the people that work there.

“I have been in touch with JobCentre Plus and I understand they will be deploying their rapid response service to do their best to ensure that we can get people back into work as soon as possible.”

Mr Wilson said official figures showed unemployment, as of last month, had climbed to 2,617 in his constituency, albeit from what he described as a “low base”.

However, of those only 80 were deemed to be long-term unemployed – having claimed jobseekers allowance for more than 12 months.

He said: “Tragically, unemployment figures will continue to rise while we get through this global recession.

“However, while this situation is bad, it is not what it was in the Eighties.”

The MP compared current figures with those in 1986, when he said there were 5,000 unemployed in Sedgefield, of which 40 per cent had been out of work for 12 months or longer.

He said: “South Durham is taking a particular hit at the moment. However, there are still people finding jobs and I am confident we are doing all we can to help those people out of work.”

Yesterday, Hendrik Alfter, managing director of the Schott plant, made no comment when contacted by The Northern Echo following a statement on Wednesday night confirming the closure.

Schott said the loss of UK customers, as well as a decline in the domestic appliance market, was to blame for its decision. The firm said it had reached agreement over redundancy payments with its staff, who would also receive a programme of support.

Alan Hall, northern director of manufacturers organisation EEF, said: “Trading conditions for manufacturing at the moment are very difficult and the strength of the recession is forcing companies to review their operations and bring some decisions forward.”