Oral Answers to Questions

Alison Griffiths Excerpts
Monday 29th June 2026

(1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Pat McFadden Portrait Pat McFadden
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I welcome my hon. Friend’s question. The report published today is really important, and it shows the lack of opportunity for white working-class children at schools. Our agenda of maximum opportunity for young people and of not letting people drop out and be left behind is really important in getting more opportunity for this group of young people.

Alison Griffiths Portrait Alison Griffiths (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton) (Con)
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Local businesses in Bognor Regis and Littlehampton tell me that they are not recruiting due to the additional cost and uncertainty created by the Employment Rights Act 2025. Has the Secretary of State assessed the impact of Government policy? Employment rights count for little if people cannot get a job in the first place.

Pat McFadden Portrait Pat McFadden
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I encourage local businesses in the hon. Lady’s constituency to look at the new incentives available from tomorrow. They can access a hiring incentive of £3,000 to help them with the cost of taking on a young person, provided that person has been out of work for six months or more. We want to do that in partnership with business. It is an important policy and I look forward to her being a champion of it in her constituency.