Contributions
948 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD“Get Britain Working” White PaperThe reason I am so passionate about devolving responsibility and accountability to local areas is that it is intended to engage precisely the kind of organisation that the hon.…26 Nov 2024HANSARD“Get Britain Working” White PaperSanctioning people because they use the NHS to make themselves as fit and healthy as possible is completely the wrong approach. I understand why disabled people are worried when…26 Nov 2024HANSARD“Get Britain Working” White PaperThe whole point of devolving responsibility and accountability to mayors and local leaders is that they will know best the organisations that they need to involve in tackling…26 Nov 2024HANSARD“Get Britain Working” White PaperThis is one of the biggest challenges that many employers face, and the reason that many of them are so keen on apprentices—as I was told yesterday—is that they can mould young…26 Nov 2024HANSARD“Get Britain Working” White PaperOne hundred per cent. I could not agree more with the hon. Lady. We need to get more women into manufacturing, engineering and all those STEM subjects. I met many apprentices…26 Nov 2024HANSARD“Get Britain Working” White PaperI thank my right hon. Friend for his question. Our 16,000 work coaches and other frontline jobcentre staff are our biggest asset. Some have worked for the DWP for 25 or 30 years,…26 Nov 2024HANSARD“Get Britain Working” White PaperThat is a really important point. We want to see more of our work coaches going to where people are, rather than always expecting them to come in. If all that help and support is…26 Nov 2024HANSARD“Get Britain Working” White PaperI thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. Northern Ireland has one of the highest rates of economic inactivity in the United Kingdom, which is a real concern for me, and, I am…26 Nov 2024HANSARD“Get Britain Working” White PaperI personally believe that we need to start much younger than 18, with good work experience and careers advice in schools. I have certainly seen that in my constituency; even in…26 Nov 2024HANSARD“Get Britain Working” White PaperThe hon. Lady raises a really important point. We have a clear manifesto commitment to review universal credit, tackle poverty and make work pay. That issue has been raised a lot…26 Nov 2024HANSARD“Get Britain Working” White PaperIt is hugely important that we deliver these new opportunities in every part of the country, including to people of all ages in Scotland. We will work with the Scottish Government…26 Nov 2024HANSARD“Get Britain Working” White PaperMy hon. Friend will know of our plans to make work pay, bring in day one employment rights, end exploitative zero-hours contracts and improve flexibility at work. We need to do…26 Nov 2024HANSARD“Get Britain Working” White PaperOf course businesses face these pressures, but I think many of them understand that the Government have to look at the fundamentals. We faced a problem with the public finances…26 Nov 2024HANSARD“Get Britain Working” White PaperMy hon. Friend hits the nail on the head. The “Get Britain Working” White Paper is part of a much wider series of reforms that the Government are making to create more good jobs…26 Nov 2024HANSARD“Get Britain Working” White PaperAs I have said to other hon. Members, I am keen to talk to businesses right across the country, including in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency, about the challenges that they…26 Nov 2024HANSARD“Get Britain Working” White PaperI am absolutely determined to get more people into better-paid jobs in every part of the country. That is the key to improving people’s living standards and to getting the economy…26 Nov 2024HANSARD“Get Britain Working” White PaperI have always been a big champion, including when I worked in social care, of working in partnership with people to get the decisions right first time. That is really important,…26 Nov 2024HANSARD“Get Britain Working” White PaperI have talked about what we aim to do to prevent mental health problems from happening in the first place, with more mental health support in schools and in the community. I see…26 Nov 2024HANSARD“Get Britain Working” White PaperI understand the pressures that many businesses are under. The Budget tried to deal with a very difficult issue: if we are spending more than we are earning, our public finances…26 Nov 2024HANSARD“Get Britain Working” White PaperThis is a major change in our approach. Local areas know best their needs and the different organisations that can help achieve goals. I know that economic inactivity in my city…26 Nov 2024