Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Kickstart Scheme 2021-01-25 (2)

Monday 25 January 2021 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Department continues to engage with employers to create high-quality placements for young people under the Kickstart Scheme.
  • Department removes the 30-job minimum for job applications starting from February 3, allowing new applicants to apply directly or via approved gateways.
  • Work coaches are being recruited in areas like Hoxton and Poplar to assist young people in finding employment opportunities.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rushanara Ali Lab Bethnal Green and Stepney
Employment
Context

The MP inquired about measures to encourage employer participation in the kickstart scheme aimed at youth employment.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to encourage employers to participate in the kickstart scheme.

Answer from Mims Davies

We continue to engage with employers of all sizes to create high-quality placements for young people, and from 3 February we will remove the 30-job minimum for job applications, giving new applicants the choice to apply directly or via one of over 600 excellent approved kickstart gateways.

Answered
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Q2 Katherine Fletcher
Employment Business & Trade
Context

The MP highlighted a small business in South Ribble that was concerned about participating in the kickstart scheme due to its size and directed it to a local chamber of commerce.

Question

Will my hon. Friend join me in thanking that small business and encouraging others in Lancashire and beyond to create a job and give an opportunity through kickstart to as many young people as possible?

Answer from Mims Davies

I would very much like to thank my hon. Friend for raising the opportunities for smaller businesses, and the great team at the North and Western Lancashire chamber of commerce for their hard work and the services they provide as a gateway organisation. This is helping many sole traders and employers in her constituency to support our young people to take up these kickstart roles, ensuring that young people have that vital wraparound support, getting them on to the career ladder and, above all, grasping future work opportunities.

Answered
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Q3 Rushanara Ali Lab Bethnal Green and Stepney
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP inquired about the progress of meeting the kickstart programme target and proposed changes to the six-month unemployment requirement.

Question

With youth unemployment set to reach 1 million and 600,000 already unemployed, can the Minister provide some updates on how her Department will meet the 250,000 kickstart programme target that it stated it would meet? The numbers that the Secretary of State has set out today are worryingly low. Will she also consider removing the six-month requirement?

Answer from Mims Davies

The young person needs to be on universal credit and working with our excellent work coaches. In respect of Hoxton and Poplar, which cover the hon. Lady's constituency, we are recruiting 27 new work coaches in Hoxton and 67 in Poplar. Since the end of September, we have been working with the new Tower Hamlets youth hub, with local employers and gateways bringing opportunities.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not address the specific ask about removing the six-month requirement or providing updates on meeting the 250,000 target.

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