Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Poverty Reduction

Monday 1 September 2025 · 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Sarah Russell asked the Minister about steps to reduce child poverty in Congleton, emphasizing improved employment as key.
  • Tim Farron questioned the Minister about negative impacts of increased national insurance contributions on employment in Cumbria, citing business cuts and recruitment freezes.
  • Jessica Morden highlighted the need for local training of construction workers in Newport East, noting the Government's announcement to train 40,000 more workers.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Sarah Russell Lab Congleton
Economy Children & Families
Context

The issue of reducing the number of children in poverty, particularly within Sarah Russell's constituency of Congleton.

Question

What steps she is taking to reduce the number of children in poverty in Congleton constituency?

Answer from The Minister for Employment (Alison McGovern)

As my hon. Friend knows well, improved employment is at the heart of our approach to child poverty, and that is why reductions in economic inactivity and improvements in employment will be part of our child poverty strategy that is to be published very soon.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide specific steps being taken locally in Congleton but spoke generally about the government's approach to reducing child poverty through employment.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Q2 Tim Farron Lib Dem Westmorland and Lonsdale
Economy Taxation Employment
Context

The impact of the Government's recent increase in national insurance contributions, particularly on employment rates and business recruitment decisions.

Question

Does the Minister accept that the Government’s increase in national insurance contributions has had a negative impact on employment in communities such as ours? Cumbria Tourism assesses that 37% of its businesses have cut staff as a consequence and 33% are freezing recruitment. Is it possible that the Government will get less from this tax rise than they expect, and that in doing this they are doing grave harm to the Cumbrian tourism economy and many other parts of our economy?

Answer from Alison McGovern

I speak to many businesses, and since coming into office, the Secretary of State and I have totally changed our approach with employers. That new approach includes a partnership with UK Hospitality, providing specific employment support to get into hospitality, and a hospitality passport so that people can evidence their qualifications, which we and UK Hospitality believe can help those people who really need a chance in life to get a good start in the hospitality sector.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not address whether national insurance contributions have had a negative impact on employment or revenue projections but spoke about a new approach with employers and partnerships with UK Hospitality.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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

Q3 Jessica Morden Lab Newport East
Housing Employment Business & Trade
Context

The demand for training more construction workers locally, and the government's announcement to train 40,000 people in the summer.

Question

After visiting businesses in Newport East this summer, I know that there is a high demand for companies—including Thames Valley Construction, which I visited—to train more construction workers locally, and I was pleased to see the Government make the announcement in the summer on training 40,000 more people. Can Ministers tell me what conversations they are having with the Welsh Government on working together to do this?

Answer from Alison McGovern

We will not build the much-needed 1.5 million homes without bringing people into the construction sector. That is why, as part of our new approach for employers, we have partnered with the construction sector and set up specific schemes with them. We are also talking directly across Whitehall with other Government Departments and with the sector about moving people into great jobs in construction.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide details on conversations with the Welsh Government but spoke generally about partnerships with the construction sector to bring more people into the industry.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

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