Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Kickstart Scheme

Tuesday 1 February 2022 · 5 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 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister assessed progress of the Kickstart scheme, noting over 122,000 jobs started by young people across Great Britain.
  • Youth unemployment fell by 11.1% in the three months to November 2021, lower than before the pandemic.
  • Government aims to encourage more businesses to participate in the Kickstart scheme before its March deadline.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Danny Kruger Reform East Wiltshire
Employment
Context

The question pertains to the evaluation and effectiveness of the kickstart scheme in supporting young people affected by the pandemic.

Question

What assessment he has made of the progress of the kickstart scheme. I am concerned about the impact on youth unemployment due to the pandemic.

Answer from Simon Clarke

We know that young people have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. To date, more than 122,000 kickstart jobs have been started by young people across Great Britain. Youth unemployment fell by 11.1% in the three months to November 2021 and is lower than it was prior to the pandemic.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The statistics provided do not directly assess the kickstart scheme's effectiveness specifically.

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Q2 Tom Randall
Employment
Context

Staff at Severn Trent Water expressed satisfaction with the kickstarters they had hired. The question is about encouraging more employers to join the scheme.

Question

Can my right hon. Friend assure me that he is working hard to encourage more companies and organisations to get involved in the kickstart scheme, to get even more people back into work?

Answer from Simon Clarke

I completely agree with my hon. Friend. Kickstart is delivering valuable jobs and work experience to young jobseekers at risk of long-term unemployment. We are delighted at the response from employers, with more than 122,000 kickstart jobs started so far.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide specific measures or assurances for increasing employer participation.

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Q3 Danny Kruger Reform East Wiltshire
Employment
Context

In the questioner's constituency, Ball Aerocan started a group of young people on the kickstart programme but faced delays. The query is about encouraging business uptake.

Question

What can the Government do to encourage businesses to make use of the scheme before it ends in March? A company has started 130 new jobs for young people but reported some system delays.

Answer from Simon Clarke

My hon. Friend is absolutely right that we want to encourage maximum uptake. Kickstart is only one part of the comprehensive package of support available to young people, while work coaches are supporting them into jobs after the scheme closes.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer avoids providing specific actions for business encouragement and focuses on alternative measures.

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Q4 Matt Western Lab Warwick and Leamington
Employment
Context

The Resolution Foundation report indicates that many young people have returned to insecure gig economy roles post-pandemic. The query is about the kickstart programme's effectiveness.

Question

Young people who lost jobs during the pandemic have returned to less secure jobs, typically gig economy roles. One third of 18 to 34-year-olds are in atypical work due to Resolution Foundation report findings. Given the Chancellor's target of 250,000 kickstart jobs, how many found jobs and what kind?

Answer from Simon Clarke

I am afraid the hon. Gentleman confuses what he is talking about. The fact that we have not hit the target is precisely a reflection of the wider economic recovery, which has generated regular jobs for young people.

Not addressed: The answer avoids addressing job quality from the kickstart scheme and shifts focus to overall employment trends.

How: Deflecting

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Q5 Barry Sheerman Lab
Economy Employment
Context

The question highlights the need for a larger, better-funded kickstart programme linked to green skills and community work. The suggestion is made for additional funding through taxes on supermarkets or gambling.

Question

I keep telling the Treasury Bench to get their finger out and get on with it. It needs to be bigger and better; it must be linked to green skills and real opportunities for young people in the community. Get on with it!

Answer from Simon Clarke

We are getting on with it. I remind the hon. Gentleman that when we compare our scheme to the last Labour Government's future jobs fund, we see that we have already comfortably exceeded their number of young people supported into work.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not address specific requests for expansion or funding mechanisms.

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