Welfare: Cost of Family Breakdown

Debate between Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean and Lord Freud

Tuesday 4th March 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Freud]

My Lords, it is vital that people get into work where they can. That is the only way to solve poverty in the long term. We have managed to get more families into work—under this Government, 300,000 more have gone into work. I should also point out that fewer families with children are in poverty under this Government. That figure has gone down by 100,000 since we came in.

[Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean (Lab)]

My Lords, in answering my noble friend Lady Sherlock, the noble Lord was unequivocal that the Government do not have targets on sanctions. Will he, therefore, instruct government offices which have charts on their walls, such as my noble friend Lady Sherlock described in asking her question, to take them down?

[Lord Freud]

If it is established that there are charts of that nature, I will instruct them to be taken down.

Young People: NEET

Debate between Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean and Lord Freud

Tuesday 29th November 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Freud]

My Lords, we are tackling this in a serious way. It is a very complicated issue, but the trick is to understand what has to be done to help youngsters. Only four things help youngsters: educational qualifications, apprenticeships, a job or work experience. We are trying to boost those elements massively in our youth contract.

[Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean]

My Lords, the Minister will have heard it said this morning that applications from young people to be students at university next year have fallen by 16 per cent. He has just mentioned the importance of qualifications for young people. Can he tell us why he thinks those applications have fallen by 16 per cent?

[Lord Freud]

My Lords, one effect of increased fees at universities is that youngsters realise the relative attraction of apprenticeships.

Benefits: EU Nationals

Debate between Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean and Lord Freud

Monday 7th November 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Freud]

I have already made my position on that absolutely clear.

[Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean]

My Lords, everybody has sympathy with a Minister when they are taken off brief, but does the Minister understand that, in this House, he answers not just for his department but for the Government? I think we would all be grateful if he would undertake to give the noble Lord, Lord Forsyth, an answer, perhaps in written form at a later date. Is the Minister aware that he is accountable to this House and that, when he is asked a question which is reasonable, it is not up to him to say that he is just not going to answer it?

[Lord Freud]

My Lords, my responsibility is to answer questions in this particular area, which I am very happy to do. If noble Lords have a question in this area, I will be delighted to answer it.