Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Levelling-up Agenda

Monday 13 September 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 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Department focuses on recruitment, retention, and career progression to implement the levelling-up agenda.
  • Government plans to tackle poverty through a 650 billion infrastructure investment aimed at creating jobs.
  • The national living wage and income tax threshold increases are part of the efforts to support low-income workers.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jon Trickett Lab Normanton and Hemsworth
Economy Employment Standards & Ethics
Context

The question stems from the government's levelling-up agenda which aims to reduce regional inequalities in the UK. The MP seeks clarity on how this agenda is being implemented within his department.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to help implement the Government's levelling-up agenda?

Answer from Justin Tomlinson

Recruitment, retention and career progression are key to levelling up, so the successful delivery of the Government's plan for jobs is vital. Through both the national disability strategy and the health and disability Green Paper, we also explore levelling up opportunities for disabled people specifically.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked about steps to implement the levelling-up agenda but received a general statement on recruitment and career progression without specific actions or measures.

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Q2 Jon Trickett Lab Normanton and Hemsworth
Economy Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP raises concerns about the impact of current economic policies on low-income families. He cites statistics showing 2.3 million working families relying on universal credit and criticizes recent policy changes such as furlough withdrawal, increased national insurance payments, and cuts to universal credit.

Question

The point is that the Minister's Department is required to address poverty and to make work pay, but the minimum wage is simply too low. Otherwise, why is it that 2.3 million working families are on universal credit? Now there is a triple whammy coming to those poorly paid people: withdrawing the furlough, raising national insurance payments and cuts to universal credit. The underlying causes of poverty are greedy bosses and rapacious landlords, but does the Minister accept that the cuts they are now imposing will drive up already shameful levels of poverty? Will he say to his colleagues that it is time to cancel the cuts?

Answer from Justin Tomlinson

Tackling poverty is a key priority for this Government, as seen with the £650 billion infrastructure investment that will deliver 425,000 more jobs a year. While the temporary increase to universal credit is coming to an end, the national living wage and income tax threshold increases, worth over £4,000 to people in full-time work, will continue, as will the universal credit work allowance changes worth up to £630 and the local housing allowance worth £600. Our excellent work coaches, who have doubled in number over the last 12 months, will be doing everything in their power to support people to take advantage of the record job opportunities.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked if the Minister acknowledges that recent policy changes would exacerbate poverty levels and requested a reconsideration of these policies. The answer provides details on government initiatives but does not directly address whether those changes will increase poverty or suggest canceling the cuts.

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