Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Economically Inactive People

Monday 31 October 2022 · 8 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Stephen Crabb asked about steps to reduce economically inactive people, and the response highlighted the recovery of the labour market since 2020 and ongoing support for job seekers.
  • Sally-Ann Hart inquired about universal support for those facing barriers to work, and the response agreed on the importance of work in reducing poverty and supported her private Member's Bill.
  • Daniel Zeichner questioned the government's stance on workplace rights, and the response acknowledged the need for good workplace rights for both workers and employers, emphasizing the focus on economic activity and inactive individuals.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Stephen Crabb Con
Employment
Context

The UK labour market has recovered since the pandemic, but there remains a significant number of economically inactive individuals.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to help reduce the number of people who are economically inactive?

Answer from Mel Stride

The labour market has recovered strongly since 2020, with payroll employment up on the pre-pandemic level in all 12 regions of the United Kingdom. We have comprehensive support in place to help people find, progress and stay in work, with additional support for groups more likely to be inactive, such as those aged 50-plus and people with a disability.

Answered
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Q2 Sally-Ann Hart
Benefits & Welfare
Context

There has been an increase in working-age benefit claimants and public spending since 2019, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current support measures.

Question

Can the Secretary of State confirm that implementing universal support will be considered to help those facing barriers to work?

Answer from Mel Stride

I agree entirely with my hon. Friend that work is the best route out of poverty, and in that regard I commend her for her private Member's Bill, which the Department is pleased to support. Our low unemployment rate demonstrates our extensive support for those moving into work; universal support has been replaced by Help to Claim, which provides tailored support to individuals making a universal credit claim across England, Scotland and Wales.

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Q3 Daniel Zeichner Lab Cambridge
Employment
Context

There are labour shortages in various sectors, including care and hospitality. The issue of workplace rights is raised as a potential solution.

Question

Is it time for the Government to recognise that good workplace rights are not just good for workers but also good for employers?

Answer from Mel Stride

I could not agree more with the hon. Gentleman. He is right to raise the issue of economic activity. That will be a major focus of mine as Secretary of State: we have 9 million people who are economically inactive, and we desperately need to get as many as we can into the workforce.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not directly confirm or deny whether good workplace rights would be a focus, instead stating a general commitment to economic activity.

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Q4 Stephen Crabb Con
Employment
Context

Research by the Prince's Trust indicates that hundreds of thousands of young people are not in education, employment or training.

Question

Does he agree that the right support would enable economically inactive young people to stay in touch with the labour market?

Answer from Mel Stride

I recognise the great work that my right hon. Friend did as a Secretary of State. There are 820,000 young people out of work and not in full-time education, and he is right that there are many things this Government can do, and indeed are doing, with our youth offer.

Answered
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Q5 Ben Bradshaw Lab
NHS Employment
Context

A significant number of people are economically inactive due to being on NHS waiting lists.

Question

What estimate has he made of the number of people who would like to work but cannot do so because they are among the hundreds of thousands waiting on record-long NHS waiting lists?

Answer from Mel Stride

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his warm words. That is a question that would probably be best answered by the Department of Health and Social Care, and I would be happy to look into that for him. We know that there is a long tail of people who would otherwise like to work but who are long-term sick—some 2.5 million in total.

How: Will Be Happy To Look Into

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Q6 Chloe Smith Con
Employment
Context

The economy is facing labour shortages, with more vacancies than people unemployed.

Question

Does he agree that a lack of staff is one of the greatest obstacles for businesses? What is his plan to unlock the talents of those who have not recently looked for work?

Answer from Mel Stride

My right hon. Friend's analysis is entirely right. We have an overheated labour market and a high number of vacancies, and the key issue that businesses up and down the country constantly raise is a lack of staff to be taken on. Broadly speaking, economic inactivity breaks down into several sectors, although I will not go through all of them; we have already touched on the 2.5 million long-term sick.

Partly answered

How: Broadly Speaking

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Q7 Kirsten Oswald SNP
Employment Scotland
Context

The Institute for Employment Studies highlights the role of Scotland's local employability partnerships in providing tailored support.

Question

Will the UK Government consider following Scotland's approach of providing more customised support and helping people into work, instead of the Department's punitive sanctions regime?

Answer from Mel Stride

We already have a local skills improvement plan, but I would be delighted to listen to the hon. Lady's thoughts; we are always happy to share best practice, and to learn from her experience and that of the devolved Administration in Scotland.

How: Delighted To Listen, Share Best Practice

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Q8 Alison McGovern Lab Birkenhead
Economy Employment
Context

The question stems from concerns about high unemployment and economic inactivity rates, with the MP pointing out that there are 1.2 million unemployed people and 1.8 million inactive individuals who want jobs.

Question

I welcome the new Secretary of State and all the new Ministers to their positions. We have heard Conservative Ministers crowing about low unemployment, but there are 1.2 million people unemployed in our country and 1.8 million inactive people who say they want a job. Taken together, that is a disaster for our country. I want to know what it is about years and years of Tory misrule that always leaves 1.2 million people unemployed and 1.8 million inactive but willing individuals on the scrapheap.

Answer from Mel Stride

I will not engage in Punch and Judy politics about unemployment rates under different governments. The key challenge is economic inactivity, which is why the Department doubled the number of work coaches in two years to 13,500 new individuals supporting those needing assistance to find jobs. I intend to put more energy into addressing economic inactivity and will bring further announcements on this issue to the House.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific aspects of Tory misrule that contribute to unemployment and inactivity were not addressed.

How: I Have Taken A Personal Vow Not To Engage In Too Much Punch And Judy Politics With The Hon. Lady During Question Time

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