Businessman Tony King has urged MPs to offer more support to long-term job seekers through public/private partnership.

Mr King, chief executive of Brighton Streamline Taxis, went to the House of Commons to promote Working Links, which helps the long-term unemployed back into work.

He said the scheme tapped into a rich resource of willing workers.

He said: "It usually takes someone six months to train to be a taxi driver on a part-time basis and some people don't stick with it.

"Working Links developed an eight-week full-time course for job seekers and now we get 20 new taxi drivers in a year."

The course combines Streamline's trainers, taxis and premises with Working Links' training budgets and administration and identifies long-term job seekers who would like to become cabbies.

Sandra Moore, Working Links director for the South Coast, said: "It is forward-thinking businessmen like Tony King that see the amazing resource and energy that can be harnessed from amongst long-term unemployed people.

"He and others like him have made an invaluable contribution to the well-being of thousands of people and their families, who previously had little scope to get back into the job market."

She said Working Links had helped 2,000 people in Brighton and Hove since April 2000 and their earnings had boosted the local economy by more than £20 million.

"More than 500 have started new businesses - 95 per cent of which are still in business after 12 months.

"This is a great success by any measure and we are hoping to spread the word at the House of Commons."