Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Jobcentres: Darlington

Monday 18 March 2024 · 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 3 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The team is working with local authorities and partners to deliver support through job fairs, SWAPs, and skills bootcamps in Darlington.
  • Peter Gibson thanked the Minister on her birthday and noted the jobcentre's initiative in setting up a Facebook page.
  • Jim Shannon asked the Minister to ensure that support for Darlington jobcentre is also extended to other constituencies across the UK.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Peter Gibson
Employment Benefits & Welfare Local Government
Context

Darlington Borough Council and Tees Valley Combined Authority are collaborating with the Department to improve local employment support.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to increase the support offered by Jobcentres in Darlington. The team are working tirelessly with Darlington Borough Council, Tees Valley Combined Authority and other partners to deliver through job fairs, SWAPs and skills bootcamps.

Answer from Jo Churchill

The team are working tirelessly with Darlington Borough Council, Tees Valley Combined Authority and other partners to deliver through job fairs, SWAPs and skills bootcamps.

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Q2 Peter Gibson
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The questioner highlights the successful Facebook page set up by Darlington jobcentre and expresses interest in a visit from the Minister.

Question

I thank my hon. Friend for her answer, and may I be the first in the Chamber to wish her a very happy birthday? In addition to the issues that she has highlighted, may I highlight the wonderful work that Darlington jobcentre has done in setting up its Facebook page? Does she agree that it is a template for others to follow, and will she come to Darlington and meet my fantastic work coaches?

Answer from Jo Churchill

I thank my hon. Friend—it is seemingly quite a large number on my birthday cards today. My hon. Friend has been a fantastic champion of his local jobcentre, and has campaigned vigorously to ensure that Darlington is at the forefront of innovation. I will be meeting his team in April.

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Q3 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Education Employment
Context

The questioner asks the Minister to ensure similar efforts are made across all of the United Kingdom, including his constituency of Strangford.

Question

The Minister, in her response to the hon. Member for Darlington (Peter Gibson), has emphasised what she will do for his local jobcentre. Whatever she will do for Darlington, she will also do for the rest of the United Kingdom, including my constituency of Strangford. Across this great United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, how can we work better with further education colleges to get our young people ready for the jobs that become available?

Answer from Jo Churchill

I talk regularly to colleagues in the Department for Education, ensuring that those skilled boot camp SWAPs make people job-ready, because they have not only the experience but a guaranteed interview. That is the way we are driving those numbers up.

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