Health: Pneumoconiosis

Debate between Lord Freud and Lord Roberts of Conwy

Wednesday 29th February 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord Freud]

My Lords, I was not aware of this discrepancy, so I will go back and have a look at exactly what is behind it, because I just do not know.

[Lord Roberts of Conwy]

My Lords, as many of us will know, many of the sufferers from pneumoconiosis were victimised by avaricious lawyers and lost a substantial portion of their compensation awards. Was that money ever recovered and returned to the proper beneficiaries?

[Lord Freud]

Again, my Lords, I am regrettably not an expert in that matter. As far as I am aware, there was not any movement to restore it, but I will have a look and write to the noble Lord on that matter.

Unemployment: Young People

Debate between Lord Freud and Lord Roberts of Conwy

Wednesday 16th November 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Freud]

No—let me tell you the real figures. The total number of unemployed and inactive youngsters went up from 1.4 million in 1997 to 1.45 million now and 1.39 million last year. That was an increase during the longest boom that this country has ever seen. Why did that happen? That was not cyclical, it was structural.

[Lord Roberts of Conwy]

My Lords, my noble friend will be well aware of the even higher youth unemployment rates in Europe, particularly in Spain. He will also be aware of the comparatively low youth unemployment rate in Germany. Is there not a great deal that we can learn from the Germans in this?

[Lord Freud]

Indeed, my Lords. The Germans have had a long tradition of apprenticeships and that is something that we need to copy and build on. We have put in money to fund an additional 250,000 apprenticeships over this spending review; we had 442,000 apprenticeships starting last year, an increase of 50,000; and we are putting in measures today to encourage smaller firms to take on apprentices.