Regional Variations: Unemployment and Inactivity

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the potential implications for policies regarding regional variations in employment levels? Health Equity North research shows high levels of economic inactivity in the north-east due to disability or ill health—40% above the national average. I visited the jobcentre in Newcastle and was very impressed by the dedication and hard work of the staff, but I know from PCS that one in four universal credit managers took time off in 2023 for mental illness, which is three times the figure before 2019. We are the only G7 country not to have the same level of employment as before the pandemic. Are those high rates due to record NHS waiting lists, low staff morale and general Government incompetence?

Question

Health Equity North research indicates that there are high levels of economic inactivity due to disability or ill health in the north-east, which is 40% above the national average. I visited the jobcentre and was impressed by their dedication but know from PCS that one in four universal credit managers took time off for mental illness, a threefold increase since before 2019. Are these high rates due to record NHS waiting lists, low staff morale and general Government incompetence?

Question

Young adults have shared their experiences of feeling let down by the benefits system, being written off as long-term sick and passed to long-term sickness benefit. Does the Minister agree that we cannot afford to be signing off so many young people on long-term sickness?