Numbers racket

HOW can the Government gloat over low unemployment figures? My nephew, aged 21, would love to be able to have full-time work, but all he can get is a 7½-hour contract with a retail outlet.

He gets called in for two hours here and one-and-a-half-hours there. His previous job was a 12½-hour contract, but on a lower hourly rate and he was constantly berated for not promoting sale items.

JULIA DALE, Pershore, Worcs.