Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Employment: North Devon

Monday 4 September 2023 · 2 questions

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

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is working to fill vacancies in North Devon.
  • Jobcentre teams are inviting employers into Jobcentre Plus weekly and hosting sector-based work academy programmes.
  • Minister visited North Devon in April to discuss employment and housing issues with the hon. Friend.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Context

North Devon faces employment challenges with high vacancy levels reported by businesses and the public sector.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to increase employment in North Devon constituency. Unemployment in North Devon is well below the national average due to the high proportion of retired people and a lack of homes those working can afford. Businesses and the public sector alike are reporting high vacancy levels. What steps is my hon. Friend taking to ensure that we do not see further business closures because of a lack of homes that workers can afford?

Answer from Guy Opperman

The Jobcentre teams in North Devon are working day and night to fill the vacancies in my hon. Friend's constituency. That includes inviting employers into the Jobcentre Plus each week, and having upcoming events on sector-based work academy programmes, including one that is about to happen with the NHS trust in Barnstaple. I visited North Devon in April to meet my hon. Friend and discuss those issues. She has my full support and that of the Department in her work to ensure that we address those problems.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps to address housing affordability for workers was not directly addressed.

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Context

North Devon faces employment challenges with high vacancy levels reported by businesses and the public sector.

Question

Unemployment in North Devon is well below the national average due to the high proportion of retired people and a lack of homes those working can afford. Businesses and the public sector alike are reporting high vacancy levels. What steps is my hon. Friend taking to ensure that we do not see further business closures because of a lack of homes that workers can afford?

Answer from Guy Opperman

I visited North Devon in April to meet my hon. Friend and discuss those issues. She has my full support and that of the Department in her work to ensure that we address those problems. Clearly, those matters are being addressed on an ongoing basis by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps to address housing affordability were not directly addressed.

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