REGARDING the Government’s plans for a “social mobility programme” and a house swapping scheme for the unemployed.

Haven’t we heard something like this before? Oh yes, when Norman Tebbitt told jobseekers to “get on your bike” 23 years ago History tells us Mr Tebbitt’s bike tyres were deflated decades ago, so why would any Government want to resurrect a similar scheme?

This house swap scheme is an attempt to encourage people to move around the country to find work, with London being earmarked as the number one destination.

While you are pondering that, take note of this: London is the wealthiest city in the UK but it now has ten per cent unemployment, a rate almost as high as that on Teesside.

Stephen Dixon, Redcar.