Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Baroness Featherstone and Thomas Docherty

Thursday 28th June 2012 Commons Chamber

[Thomas Docherty (Dunfermline and West Fife) (Lab)]

7. What assessment she has made of the potential effect of recent labour market trends on black and minority ethnic communities.

[The Minister for Equalities (Lynne Featherstone)]

Tackling unemployment is a priority for this Government. Our approach is to support people according to their individual needs and circumstances rather than segregate them according to ethnicity. That is why we have introduced personalised support through the Work programme, the youth contract, and the Get Britain Working measures. The significantly increased flexibility that we have given to providers and Jobcentre Plus means that interventions can be tailored to address an individual’s specific needs.

[Thomas Docherty]

Given, however, that 44.4% of economically active 16 to 24-year-old black people are without work, compared with just 20% of white people, is not this policy not working?

[Lynne Featherstone]

The hon. Gentleman raises the issue of the number of young black men who are out of work. However, the recent press coverage gave inaccurate figures. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that less than a third of black men aged 18 to 24 are unemployed. The Government recognise that that figure is still too high, which is why we have introduced tailored and personalised support to help people get back into the labour market.