Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Helping People into Work

Monday 18 March 2024 · 7 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 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Jobcentre Plus provides training and one-to-one counselling by work coaches to support individuals into work.
  • The Government supports youth hubs that provide advice and support on employment and other important matters for young people.
  • The Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts a net increase of 200,000 more people in employment due to recent fiscal measures.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Gordon Henderson Con
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP is concerned about steps being taken to help people into work.

Question

What steps he is taking to help people into work. I am concerned about the measures in place for individuals seeking employment and how they can be supported effectively.

Answer from Mel Stride

Jobcentre Plus provides a variety of different support to encourage and support people into work, including training and one-to-one, face-to-face counselling by work coaches.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific steps or commitments beyond general programme description

How: Provides General Information

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Q2 Gordon Henderson Con
Education Employment
Context

In February, there were 615 claimants aged 18 to 24 out of work in Sittingbourne and Sheppey. The MP is concerned about the skills and qualifications young people need for employment.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is important that schools and businesses work together to ensure that young people have the qualifications and skills they need to progress into work once they finish full-time education? In February, there were 615 claimants aged 18 to 24 out of work in Sittingbourne and Sheppey.

Answer from Mel Stride

I could not agree more with my hon. Friend. It is exactly why we have youth hubs providing advice and support on not just getting into work but other important matters to young people, such as housing, their health and debt management.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific initiatives or commitments beyond general agreement

How: Provides General Information

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Q3 Emma Hardy Lab Kingston upon Hull West and Haltemprice
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP is concerned about an employee's difficulty in fulfilling their role due to the Access to Work scheme not being immediately available.

Question

Does the Minister agree that without having Access to Work in place within the first four weeks of someone entering work, it is incredibly difficult for them to maintain that position? I was talking to the Royal National Institute of Blind People, which represents the blind and partially sighted. It told me of an employee who said they are newly employed and unable to fulfill their role.

Answer from Mel Stride

I am pleased that the hon. Lady raises Access to Work, because it is extremely effective. The grant can be there year in, year out and be up to a maximum of £66,000.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address immediate availability or specific difficulties faced by the employee

How: Provides General Information

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Q4 Theresa Villiers Con
Employment
Context

The MP is concerned about using apprenticeships to tackle levels of economic inactivity among young people.

Question

What are the Government doing to use apprenticeships to help young people engage with the labour market, to tackle levels of economic inactivity and to give them the opportunities they need to get the careers that they want?

Answer from Mel Stride

My right hon. Friend raises economic inactivity, which is lower in our country than in the United States, France and Italy. It is below the average of the OECD, the G7 and the European Union.

Not addressed: Changed subject to comparative statistics without addressing apprenticeships or initiatives for young people

How: Compares With Other Countries

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Q5 Andrew Gwynne Ind Gorton and Denton
NHS Employment
Context

The MP is concerned about the long-term health conditions such as post-viral fatigue impacting workforce participation.

Question

What assessment has he made of the effect of long covid on the workforce, and what is he doing to help people who have it get back to work? As somebody who has fought really hard over the last four years to overcome the difficulties presented by long covid, I am sure that the Secretary of State will appreciate that a significant number of the people not in work because of health conditions will have some form of post-viral fatigue linked to long covid.

Answer from Mel Stride

The hon. Gentleman specifically raises long covid, which is one of many health pressures in our society and post covid in many other countries that were also affected by the virus.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific assessment or actions related to long covid

How: Generalises About Multiple Health Pressures

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Q6 Alison McGovern Lab Birkenhead
Economy Employment
Context

The MP is concerned about the employment growth forecast in relation to recent fiscal measures.

Question

Following the Chancellor's “Back to work Budget” in the autumn and all the measures unveiled since then, did the Office for Budget Responsibility upgrade or downgrade its forecast on employment growth in the Budget 12 days ago?

Answer from Mel Stride

One of the most important figures in the spring Budget economic and fiscal outlook was a recognition by the OBR that there will be a net 200,000 more people in employment as a consequence of that fiscal event and the one that preceded it in the autumn.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address upgrade/downgrade status or specific impact of measures

How: Provides General Information

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Q7 Alison McGovern Lab Birkenhead
Economy Employment
Context

The MP is concerned about the Prime Minister's handling of employment rates post-pandemic.

Question

What the Secretary of State cannot get away from is the fact that, as has already been said, our employment rate has not returned to the post-pandemic level. The reason for that is a truth that the British people have known for a long time now: these Ministers sitting on the Treasury Bench have no idea, no plan for jobs, no plan for growth.

Answer from Mel Stride

I have already referred to the 200,000 additional jobs that the OBR suggests in its forecast, but the hon. Lady cannot get away from the fact that we have record levels of payroll employment in our country, and near record low unemployment.

Not addressed: Changed subject to praising current employment figures without addressing performance or plans

How: Contrasts With Past Performance

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