I THINK the story on the reduction in the number of people claiming out-of-work benefits in Cheshire East was a bit misleading.

Some people who would have been eligible for Income Based Jobseekers Allowance not that long ago are now not entitled to its replacement (Universal Credit) due to the amount of money they have in savings.

Therefore, people who lose their jobs while saving up for a deposit for a first home now have to live off the money while they are out-ofwork.

Then, when they get back in to work and eventually have a big enough deposit for a first home, they can get a grant from the government provided they have put the money for a deposit in to a Help2Buy ISA.

The changes George Osborne made as Chancellor to divert funds from the unemployed to first time buyers generate statistics which makes it look like the government has done a much better job at reducing unemployment then they really have.

Sheila O’Grady Knutsford