MINISTER of State for Social Security and Welfare Reform, Birkenhead MP Frank Field Field, has earmarked Wirral as a launch pad for his 'New Deal'.

This will have an effect on the voluntary sector, heard the annual meeting of Wirral Action, the young volunteers' community work organisation.

Wirral Action will play a proactive role and is already involving itself in workshops taking place locally over the 'New Deal'.

But Wirral TUC secretary Alec McFadden has warned that the 'New Deal' must not be a cheap labour scheme. He also claims the partnership approach has, as yet, not started to operate, from the TUC point of view.

TUC in Wirral, at Beechwood Community Centre, has written to the Minister for Employment and Disabled Rights Andrew Smith.

Complains Alec McFadden: "Wirral TUC and our two TUC unemployment centres have received no invitation to any consultation meeting in spite of the fact Wirral is a Pathfinder area." He confirms that Wirral TUC supports the 'New Deal', based on TUC policy.

Mr Field was in town on Friday to attend a meeting with MDC chief executive Chris Farrow, talk to Sixth Form students at Wirral Grammar, meet with Labour councillors and hold his regular Friday, 5pm surgery at Birkenhead Town Hall.

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