(9 years, 8 months ago)
Commons Chamber3. What assessment he has made of the effect of the benefit cap on long-term unemployment.
8. What assessment he has made of the effect of the benefit cap on rates of employment.
The benefit cap is having a positive impact on people’s lives. I believe it is encouraging them to find work. The statistics show that. [Interruption.] Yes, they do. Those affected by the cap are 41% more likely to go into work than a similar uncapped group. It is under this Government that we are seeing long-term unemployment fall to its lowest level since 2009. The employment rate, at 73.2%, has never been higher.