Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Helping People into Work

Monday 5 December 2022 · 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 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister visited about 50 jobcentres to thank disability employment advisers.
  • Government initiatives support people with Down's syndrome to start and stay in work.
  • Minister will write to MP regarding steps for those not in education to enter employment.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Gareth Bacon Con Orpington
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP is concerned about the effectiveness of current employment support programmes and their impact on unemployment rates.

Question

What assessment has been made of the effectiveness of his Department's policies in helping people into work? The question highlights that 21% of those aged between 16 and 64 are not in work or seeking work, despite an estimated 1.2 million unfilled jobs.

Answer from Guy Opperman

I have visited around 50 jobcentres, and this is an opportunity for me to thank the many disability employment advisers who do a fantastic job ensuring that we get disabled people into work. That figure is up 2 million since 2013, with nearly 5 million disabled people in work at the moment.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific steps taken to address the unemployment rate and fill job vacancies were not detailed.

How: There Is Far Too Much For Me To Outline At The Dispatch Box, But I Will Write To My Hon. Friend.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Gareth Davies Con Grantham and Bourne
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP highlights the achievements of the Down Syndrome Act 2022 in recognising the potential of individuals with Down's syndrome when provided adequate support.

Question

One of the great accomplishments of the Down Syndrome Act 2022 was to affirm the great potential of people with Down's syndrome if they just have the right support. So what steps is the Department taking to ensure that everyone who wants to work has the opportunity to do so?

Answer from Guy Opperman

My hon. Friend is right that this is a landmark piece of legislation, and I praise him for raising it today. A range of Government initiatives are supporting those with Down's syndrome to start, stay and succeed in work, including through increased work coach support.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps or concrete actions were not provided.

How: I Pay Similar Tribute To My Right Hon. Friend The Member For North Somerset.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Gareth Bacon Con Orpington
Employment
Context

The MP is concerned about individuals who are not actively seeking work and the opportunities for them to find employment.

Question

Twenty-one per cent. of those aged between 16 and 64 are currently not in work or seeking work, at a time when there are 1.2 million unfilled jobs in the economy. What steps is the Department taking to ensure that those who are not in full-time education take steps to enter employment?

Answer from Guy Opperman

There is far too much for me to outline at the Dispatch Box, but I will write to my hon. Friend. The labour market has recovered strongly since 2020, with payroll employment up on pre-pandemic levels.

Not addressed: No specific steps or initiatives were provided regarding those not actively seeking work.

How: There Is Far Too Much For Me To Outline At The Dispatch Box

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)