Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Kickstart: Departmental Discussions

Monday 8 March 2021 · 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 Northern Ireland Executive will run the job start scheme to support young people at risk of long-term unemployment.
  • Northern Ireland received funding through Barnett consequentials to support the job start scheme.
  • Officials from the Department for Communities have been discussing the implementation of the job start scheme.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ian Paisley Jnr DUP
Employment Northern Ireland Benefits & Welfare
Context

No specific background provided, but the question is about discussions regarding a kickstart scheme in Northern Ireland.

Question

What discussions her Department has had with the Department for Communities on the kickstart scheme.

Answer from Mims Davies

The Northern Ireland Executive will be running the job start scheme to support young people to progress. Similar to the kickstart scheme available in England, Scotland and Wales, it is also focused on helping young people most at risk of long-term unemployment. The hon. Gentleman will be pleased to know that the DWP has been in regular contact with colleagues in Northern Ireland to discuss the development of the job start scheme and share progress and insight on the kickstart scheme.

Answered
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Q2 Ian Paisley Jnr DUP
Employment Northern Ireland
Context

The kickstart scheme has not yet been rolled out in Northern Ireland, prompting the question about responsibility and progress.

Question

The Minister is absolutely right that the kickstart scheme is a wonderful, innovative scheme, which should be applied to Northern Ireland, but it has not yet been rolled out there. I wonder whether the Minister will be honest with us and tell us whether that is the fault of the UK Government or the fault of the local Communities Minister, who has been allocated the money but has not yet applied it to the scheme? Will the hon. Lady encourage her to get on with applying this scheme to Northern Ireland in the next telephone call that she has with the Communities Minister in Northern Ireland?

Answer from Mims Davies

Northern Ireland received Barnett consequentials to support the job start scheme, and our officials have been talking. The money is not ring-fenced, and I am keen to see all young people access this type of scheme across the United Kingdom so that they can get the support they need to progress. Should anybody need further support to make this happen in Northern Ireland, our officials continue to stand ready to see it start.

Partly answered

Not addressed: responsibility and fault for non-implementation of the kickstart scheme in Northern Ireland

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