Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Adam Afriyie and David T C Davies
Monday 9th March 2015
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(9 years, 7 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Adam Afriyie (Windsor) (Con)
3. What assessment he has made of the effect of the benefit cap on long-term unemployment.
David T. C. Davies (Monmouth) (Con)
8. What assessment he has made of the effect of the benefit cap on rates of employment.
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr Iain Duncan Smith)
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.