Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Unemployment levels are a concern, with the questioner highlighting the need for assessment of trends. The MP noted the government's programme's impact on local constituencies.
What assessment has the government made of trends in the level of unemployment?
Headline unemployment is below its average rate under the previous Government, and inactivity is falling as more people actively seek work. Some 381,000 more people have moved into work over the past year.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The answer does not specifically address the trend analysis requested, instead providing a broad overview.
Under Review
Working On It
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Youth unemployment is spiking at 5.3%, and the questioner is critical of the government's response, including the Employment Rights Act 2025.
Youth unemployment is spiking at nearly 5.3%, which is heartbreaking. What can the government do to mitigate this?
The hon. Member will be aware of the national insurance tax break under which no employer national insurance contributions are payable for workers under 21, unless they earn more than £50,000, which not too many workers under the age of 21 do.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The answer does not directly address the youth unemployment spike or suggest specific actions beyond existing measures.
Under Review
Working On It
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The MP questions the government's data on unemployment, specifically inquiring about the increase since July 2024.
The Minister answered a question about unemployment by giving data about employment. By how much has general unemployment increased since July 2024?
I did talk about unemployment. As I said, the unemployment figures are lower, on average, than when the hon. Gentleman's party was in power. We are, of course, doing everything we can to help people into work, which is why I referred to the measures that we are taking, including the youth guarantee and increased apprenticeship starts.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The answer does not provide the specific increase in unemployment since July 2024.
Under Review
Working On It
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The MP criticises the government for imposing costs on employers and questions the outcome of such policies.
The Government loaded costs on to employers while the benefits bill let rip. What on earth did they think would happen?
As I said, no employer national insurance contributions are payable for workers under the age of 21, and we believe that workers should be decently paid for the work they do. We are responding to the particular challenge of youth unemployment, which I acknowledge is there, and was there when the Conservative party was in power, with active measures such as the youth guarantee and more youth apprenticeship starts.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The answer does not address the questioner's specific concerns about what the government thought would happen with their policies.
Under Review
Working On It
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The MP has launched a business club in her constituency and is concerned about the difficulty businesses face in taking on new staff due to government policies.
I recently launched my Bognor Regis and Littlehampton business club. Many who joined are independent hospitality and leisure businesses, and their No.1 concern is how difficult it is to take on new staff under this Government. What assessment has the Department made of the impact of the Treasury's new jobs tax, and the Government's new employment regulations, on job creation in coastal constituencies such as mine?
I congratulate the business club—such organisations play a valuable role in our constituencies. The hon. Lady asks what measures we are taking, and I am grateful to the Chancellor for the extra funding made available in the Budget for the youth guarantee. That will gives hundreds of thousands more training and work experience places to young people and, importantly, will provide funding for the long-term youth unemployed to gain six months' work, paid at the national minimum wage for 25 hours a week, so that young people get used to the discipline and duty of turning up, doing a job, and experiencing the sense of pride and purpose that comes with having a job.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The answer does not provide a specific assessment of the impact of the jobs tax and employment regulations on job creation.
Under Review
Working On It
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Net migration has fallen to its lowest level since 2021, and the MP is concerned about the impact on the labour market and economy.
Net migration has fallen to the lowest level since 2021, which will have a significant impact on our labour market and economy if we do not train and support unemployed people in the UK into jobs in key sectors. What steps is the Secretary of State taking to target back-to-work programmes, especially those for young people who are not in work, education or training, to fill skills shortages in crucial areas such as health and social care?
My hon. Friend asks an excellent question. The fact that net migration is falling to lower levels than we have seen for some time gives added urgency to a question that has often been posed: why do we not do more to train our own workers? That is precisely why I am prioritising youth apprenticeship starts, which fell by 40% under the previous Government. We must arrest that decline and ensure that we respond to the new situation of falling levels of net migration by training more of our own young people.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The answer does not provide specific steps being taken to target back-to-work programmes for young people.
Under Review
Working On It
Response accuracy
Q7
Direct Answer
▸
Context
The MP is seeking clarity on what the youth guarantee means for young people in his constituency.
Will the Secretary of State outline what exactly the youth guarantee means for young people in my constituency of Mansfield?
What it will mean for young people in my hon. Friend's constituency, and many others, is intensive work coach training, and the chance of training or work experience. If that does not get them into a job, ultimately it will mean a subsidised job, where they get six months of work experience, paid at the national minimum wage for 25 hours a week. The last thing we want is people leaving education and going on to a life on benefits.
▸
Assessment & feedback
null
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The level of young people not in education, employment, or training in Harlow has decreased, and businesses are concerned about the skills young people have upon leaving school.
The Secretary of State will know that the level of young people not in education, employment or training in Harlow has gone down, due to the hard work of Harlow College, working in partnership with local schools such as Passmores Academy and Burnt Mill Academy, which I visited this morning. Businesses and the local chamber of commerce are telling me that the No.1 challenge for getting young people into employment is the skills they have upon leaving school. What work is the Secretary of State doing with the Department for Education to ensure that we have a curriculum that incorporates the skills that employers so desperately need?
I am relieved to hear that the number of young people not in education, employment or training is dropping in Harlow. The number of such people rose by a quarter of a million in the last few years of the Conservative party's time in government, and they did absolutely nothing about it. Bringing skills into the Department for Work and Pensions gives us the chance to bring skills policy and labour market policy closer together, to help young people get that vital chance of a first job.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The answer does not provide specific work being done with the Department for Education.
Under Review
Working On It
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Unemployment increased from 4.2% to 5.2% over 18 months, with 1 million young people not in employment, education or training. The Conservative party criticizes Labour's policies for job destruction and anti-growth measures.
Unemployment increased from 4.2% to 5.2% over 18 months, with 1 million young people not in employment, education or training. The Conservative party criticizes Labour's policies for job destruction and anti-growth measures. Will the Secretary of State commit that unemployment will be lower at the end of this Parliament than it was at the start?
The hon. Member is new to his position. The OBR forecast employment to rise in every year of the forecast period.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Commitment to reducing unemployment
He Is New To His Position
Response accuracy
Q10
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The Chancellor had the opportunity to reverse a jobs tax that is costing thousands of jobs for young people across the UK, but did not do so.
The Chancellor had the opportunity to reverse a jobs tax that is costing thousands of jobs for young people across the UK, but did not do so. Why did she not choose to reverse this tax?
The Liberal Democrats support extra spending but oppose revenue-raising measures. If they want NHS waiting lists to fall and more spending, they must support revenue-raising measures.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Reversing the jobs tax
Support Extra Spending But Oppose Revenue-Raising Measures
Response accuracy