Economically Inactive People 2022-10-31
2022-10-31
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The UK labour market has recovered since the pandemic, but there remains a significant number of economically inactive individuals.
What steps his Department is taking to help reduce the number of people who are economically inactive?
The labour market has recovered strongly since 2020, with payroll employment up on the pre-pandemic level in all 12 regions of the United Kingdom. We have comprehensive support in place to help people find, progress and stay in work, with additional support for groups more likely to be inactive, such as those aged 50-plus and people with a disability.
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Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
There has been an increase in working-age benefit claimants and public spending since 2019, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current support measures.
Can the Secretary of State confirm that implementing universal support will be considered to help those facing barriers to work?
I agree entirely with my hon. Friend that work is the best route out of poverty, and in that regard I commend her for her private Member's Bill, which the Department is pleased to support. Our low unemployment rate demonstrates our extensive support for those moving into work; universal support has been replaced by Help to Claim, which provides tailored support to individuals making a universal credit claim across England, Scotland and Wales.
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Q3
Partial Answer
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There are labour shortages in various sectors, including care and hospitality. The issue of workplace rights is raised as a potential solution.
Is it time for the Government to recognise that good workplace rights are not just good for workers but also good for employers?
I could not agree more with the hon. Gentleman. He is right to raise the issue of economic activity. That will be a major focus of mine as Secretary of State: we have 9 million people who are economically inactive, and we desperately need to get as many as we can into the workforce.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer did not directly confirm or deny whether good workplace rights would be a focus, instead stating a general commitment to economic activity.
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Q4
Direct Answer
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Research by the Prince's Trust indicates that hundreds of thousands of young people are not in education, employment or training.
Does he agree that the right support would enable economically inactive young people to stay in touch with the labour market?
I recognise the great work that my right hon. Friend did as a Secretary of State. There are 820,000 young people out of work and not in full-time education, and he is right that there are many things this Government can do, and indeed are doing, with our youth offer.
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Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
A significant number of people are economically inactive due to being on NHS waiting lists.
What estimate has he made of the number of people who would like to work but cannot do so because they are among the hundreds of thousands waiting on record-long NHS waiting lists?
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his warm words. That is a question that would probably be best answered by the Department of Health and Social Care, and I would be happy to look into that for him. We know that there is a long tail of people who would otherwise like to work but who are long-term sick—some 2.5 million in total.
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Will Be Happy To Look Into
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Q6
Partial Answer
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The economy is facing labour shortages, with more vacancies than people unemployed.
Does he agree that a lack of staff is one of the greatest obstacles for businesses? What is his plan to unlock the talents of those who have not recently looked for work?
My right hon. Friend's analysis is entirely right. We have an overheated labour market and a high number of vacancies, and the key issue that businesses up and down the country constantly raise is a lack of staff to be taken on. Broadly speaking, economic inactivity breaks down into several sectors, although I will not go through all of them; we have already touched on the 2.5 million long-term sick.
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Assessment & feedback
Broadly Speaking
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Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
The Institute for Employment Studies highlights the role of Scotland's local employability partnerships in providing tailored support.
Will the UK Government consider following Scotland's approach of providing more customised support and helping people into work, instead of the Department's punitive sanctions regime?
We already have a local skills improvement plan, but I would be delighted to listen to the hon. Lady's thoughts; we are always happy to share best practice, and to learn from her experience and that of the devolved Administration in Scotland.
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Delighted To Listen
Share Best Practice
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Q8
Partial Answer
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The question stems from concerns about high unemployment and economic inactivity rates, with the MP pointing out that there are 1.2 million unemployed people and 1.8 million inactive individuals who want jobs.
I welcome the new Secretary of State and all the new Ministers to their positions. We have heard Conservative Ministers crowing about low unemployment, but there are 1.2 million people unemployed in our country and 1.8 million inactive people who say they want a job. Taken together, that is a disaster for our country. I want to know what it is about years and years of Tory misrule that always leaves 1.2 million people unemployed and 1.8 million inactive but willing individuals on the scrapheap.
I will not engage in Punch and Judy politics about unemployment rates under different governments. The key challenge is economic inactivity, which is why the Department doubled the number of work coaches in two years to 13,500 new individuals supporting those needing assistance to find jobs. I intend to put more energy into addressing economic inactivity and will bring further announcements on this issue to the House.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific aspects of Tory misrule that contribute to unemployment and inactivity were not addressed.
I Have Taken A Personal Vow Not To Engage In Too Much Punch And Judy Politics With The Hon. Lady During Question Time
Response accuracy