Commenting on the latest national employment figures, Liberal Democrat Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary, Norman Lamb MP said:

"There are signs that the outlook for jobs may be starting to deteriorate: the trend in the employment rate has turned down, the claimant count continues to rise and the number of job vacancies has fallen once again.

"The positive figures on employment have been fuelled largely by growth in public sector employment. The Government must now take urgent action on deregulation so that the private sector can compete and continue to deliver job growth."