Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Unemployment: Covid-19

Monday 30 November 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The latest Office for National Statistics figures show a national level of unemployment at 1.6 million, an increase of around 260,000 since the start of the pandemic.
  • Since March, youth unemployment in Harlow constituency has risen by 134%.
  • The Minister paid tribute to the hard work of the Harlow jobcentre staff and mentioned discussions for a new DWP youth hub in Harlow.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Robert Halfon Con
Economy Employment
Context

The question stems from the significant rise in unemployment caused by the pandemic. The latest figures show a national level of unemployment at 1.6 million, an increase of around 260,000 since the start of the pandemic.

Question

What assessment has been made of the effect of the COVID-19 outbreak on levels of unemployment? The latest Office for National Statistics figures show a national level of unemployment at 1.6 million, an increase of around 260,000 since the start of the pandemic.

Answer from Mims Davies

The latest Office for National Statistics labour market figures show a level of unemployment of 1.6 million, which has increased by around 260,000 since the start of the pandemic. As part of our plan for jobs package, the DWP has launched new programmes, including kickstart, JETS and the job finding support service to help people who have been impacted by the pandemic to find new employment.

Answered
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Q2 Robert Halfon Con
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

Since March, youth unemployment in the constituency of Harlow has risen by 134%, highlighting a significant impact on young people. The jobcentre in Harlow and local further education college have been working hard to address this issue.

Question

My hon. Friend will be aware that since March, because of covid, youth unemployment in my constituency of Harlow has, sadly, risen by 134%. Will my hon. Friend pay tribute to the extraordinary work of the Harlow jobcentre, and to the education, skills and training provided by Harlow further education college, which will be at the forefront of creating jobs? Can she set out how Harlow businesses can access the kickstart scheme and the apprentice funding announced by the Chancellor?

Answer from Mims Davies

I join my right hon. Friend in paying tribute to the hard work and commitment of the Harlow jobcentre staff throughout these difficult times. We are in active discussions on a new DWP youth hub in Harlow. Those at Harlow jobcentre, alongside our 600-plus other jobcentres, do an immense job daily, encouraging and helping our most vulnerable claimants and supporting all individuals based on their circumstances, and that is where kickstart and other programmes will come in. Jobcentres do work locally with external partners—with charities, local employers and key organisations across Harlow and elsewhere—on local recovery plans and local needs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: How Harlow businesses can access the kickstart scheme and apprentice funding announced by the Chancellor is not fully addressed.

How: Work Locally With External Partners

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