Contributions
1,153 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDUnemploymentHeadline 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…09 Mar 2026HANSARDUnemploymentI 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…09 Mar 2026HANSARDTopical QuestionsI have already praised Rugby once during this session; let me do so a second time. I cannot promise to attend my hon. Friend’s jobs fair, but I can say that such fairs play a…09 Mar 2026HANSARDUnemploymentMy 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…09 Mar 2026HANSARDUnemploymentAs 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…09 Mar 2026HANSARDJobs Guarantee: Correction to Written StatementOn 29 January, I made a written statement on the jobs guarantee. There was a minor error in the statement. The statement said: “I would also like to thank the over 60 employers…05 Feb 2026HANSARDUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) BillI beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. Core to our belief is the idea that no one, no matter their background, should be trapped by their circumstances. People…03 Feb 2026HANSARDUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) BillI remind the hon. Lady that the benefit cap does not apply to families who are in work or who have a disabled child. It is in place, and that approach balances support and…03 Feb 2026HANSARDUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) BillThe right hon. Gentleman is very keen, so I will give way.03 Feb 2026HANSARDUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) BillNot at the moment. This is not a static group; people’s circumstances change, marriages break up, spouses die and jobs can be lost. In fact, around half of the families who will…03 Feb 2026HANSARDUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) BillI will come on to the timing of our decision, and exactly why it is right.03 Feb 2026HANSARDUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) BillThe right hon. Gentleman has set out the previous Government’s justification. I am about to explain why that did not stack up at the time, and why it certainly does not stack up…03 Feb 2026HANSARDUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) BillNo, I do not regret anything I have ever said on this issue. All along in this debate, there has been an attempt to divide workers from non-workers—03 Feb 2026HANSARDUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) BillNot at the moment. As I said, around half the families who will benefit were not on universal credit when they had any of their children. These are people who found themselves in…03 Feb 2026HANSARDUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) BillMy hon. Friend is right, and the point she makes is that we also tackle these issues piece by piece and over time. I turn now to the question that people have asked: “Why not do…03 Feb 2026HANSARDUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) BillTiming matters, and if the right hon. Gentleman shows a little patience, I will tell him exactly why we have done this in the timeframe that we have. All the policy did was force…03 Feb 2026HANSARDUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) BillNot at the moment. We spent plenty of time in opposition writing those lists—we had many years to do it—only to see them turn to dust on the morning of an election defeat. Good…03 Feb 2026HANSARDUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) BillMy right hon. Friend the Chancellor spelled out at the Budget how this was going to be paid for. If the right hon. Lady did not hear me the first time, I am happy to repeat…03 Feb 2026HANSARDUniversal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) BillI shall if the right hon. Lady shows a little patience. Around 60% of the families affected by the current policy are in work, and of those who are not working, a significant…03 Feb 2026HANSARD Women’s State Pension Age Communication: PHSO ReportWe are often encouraged to make our statements to Parliament first and that is what I have done. When I announced in November that I was retaking the decision, I made that…29 Jan 2026