Contributions
1,535 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDChild PovertyI was saying that it is important that there are measures in the child poverty strategy to help with childcare in particular. It is not just that; we have free school meals and…08 Dec 2025HANSARDUnemployment LevelsMy hon. Friend is exactly right. At the mayors council on Thursday, we were discussing this very point about ensuring that all parts of the country benefit from employment…08 Dec 2025HANSARDUnemployment LevelsThe hon. Lady might not know this, but I joined the team in September, so I will have to find out. I am happy to write to her about when the last meeting in that area took place.08 Dec 2025HANSARDUnemployment LevelsI welcome my hon. Friend’s question. The growth in the number of NEETs over time is absolutely a matter of inequality. The previous Government failed to tackle this issue and the…08 Dec 2025HANSARDUnemployment LevelsThe hon. Gentleman will know that, for under-21s, there are no national insurance contributions that are payable by an employer. I fully recognise that McDonald’s provides…08 Dec 2025HANSARDUnemployment LevelsMay I just say gently to the shadow Secretary of State that she seems to be suffering from amnesia? We know that in the last four years of the previous Government, the number of…08 Dec 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsI agree with my hon. Friend. It is shocking that during the previous Government some 900,000 children were allowed to get into poverty. The cost of that will be borne by us all,…08 Dec 2025HANSARDSupport into Work: Mental Ill HealthMy hon. Friend raises an important point. We know that 6,700 workers in the NHS are already providing that additional mental health support and, as I have said, work is going on…08 Dec 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsI absolutely agree. We all know that child poverty stifles opportunity, making it harder for children to succeed and get on in life. Nearly 1 million young people aged 16 to 24…08 Dec 2025HANSARDUnemployment LevelsI am sure that the hon. Lady will be pleased to know that more than 329,000 more people are in work this year. The economically active working-age population has reached a record…08 Dec 2025HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe hon. Gentleman raises an important point. The transformation of our jobs and career service will provide wraparound support to individuals who are looking for work or career…08 Dec 2025HANSARDSupport into Work: Mental Ill HealthThe hon. Lady knows that there are already resources going into schools to provide mental health support to children and young people early on. There is also additional money…08 Dec 2025HANSARD Autistic Adults: EmploymentThen I will carry on, because there are a few other issues that it might be helpful for hon. Members to be aware of. Since August this year, there have been the full-time…11 Nov 2025HANSARD Autistic Adults: EmploymentAs a fellow Hull MP, it is a real pleasure to serve under you today, Mr Turner. I congratulate the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Lisa Smart) on securing this important debate. I…11 Nov 2025HANSARD Autistic Adults: EmploymentI am happy to provide the hon. Lady with the details about that, but what is happening is that we are realigning the needs of individuals who come to jobcentres to ensure that…11 Nov 2025HANSARDWork and Pensions… I am pleased that my first debate in Parliament as the new Minister for employment is about menopause. Women make up 48% of the workplace, and every woman will go through…22 Oct 2025HANSARDWork and Pensions… I am pleased that my first debate in Parliament as the new Minister for employment is about menopause. Women make up 51% of the workplace, and every woman will go through…22 Oct 2025HANSARDWorld Menopause DayLet me start by congratulating my hon. Friend the Member for Neath and Swansea East (Carolyn Harris) on securing this important debate from the Backbench Business Committee, and…16 Oct 2025HANSARDWorld Menopause DayI am not a Health Minister, but a Minister in the Department for Work and Pensions. I take the point, however, and I will raise it with my colleagues in the Department of Health…16 Oct 2025HANSARDWorld Menopause DayOkay. Although the action that the Government are taking, and the work of so many—not least my hon. Friend the Member for Neath and Swansea East—show our commitment to this issue,…16 Oct 2025