Middle East: Economic Response Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Middle East: Economic Response

Lord Gardiner of Kimble Excerpts
Monday 1st June 2026

(1 month, 4 weeks ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Gardiner of Kimble Portrait The Deputy Speaker (Lord Gardiner of Kimble) (Con)
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My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Campbell-Savours, is taking part remotely. I invite him to speak.

Lord Campbell-Savours Portrait Lord Campbell-Savours (Lab) [V]
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My Lords, with AI causing reductions in apprenticeship training and with minimum-wage resistance from employers, why do the Government not look, in addition to the laudable initiatives that they are introducing, at the 1980s community programme? It emphasised environmental improvement, the arts and charities. It took young people off benefits and put them into work in local communities, at a time when dangers from anti-social activities were developing from long-term inactivity and unemployment. Ministers might read the speech of former MP Graham Allen of 29 July 1988 on the Nottingham operation of the programme in his constituency. It is a lesson to be learned from the past.