Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
Enforce the “50+1” Rule for professional football club ownership in the UK
Gov Responded - 24 May 2021 Debated on - 14 Jun 2021 View Alison McGovern's petition debate contributionsBring in a law which enforces professional football clubs to have at least 51% fan ownership similar to how the Bundesliga operates this rule.
Introduce an Independent Regulator for Football in England by December 2021
Gov Responded - 7 Jun 2021 Debated on - 14 Jun 2021 View Alison McGovern's petition debate contributionsThe Government should use the recently established fan led review of football to introduce an Independent Football Regulator in England to put fans back at the heart of our national game. This should happen by December 2021.
Allow golf to be played with appropriate safety measures
Gov Responded - 18 Jan 2021 Debated on - 22 Mar 2021 View Alison McGovern's petition debate contributionsThe Government should allow golf courses to remain open during the second lockdown, and any future restrictions. Shops and clubhouses can close, but courses should be allowed to remain open, with social distancing in place.
Shut all nurseries and early years settings during lockdown
Gov Responded - 26 Jan 2021 Debated on - 22 Mar 2021 View Alison McGovern's petition debate contributionsUrgent call for the government to close all nurseries and early years settings in light of the new lockdown to protect early years staff.
Keep gyms open during Tier 4 lockdown
Gov Responded - 14 Jan 2021 Debated on - 22 Mar 2021 View Alison McGovern's petition debate contributionsConsider keeping gyms open during lockdown because so many people have mental health and stress and they need something to do to take their mind off it closing all fitness facilities can affect us pretty badly.
Open gyms first as we come out of lockdown & fund a Work Out to Help Out scheme
Gov Responded - 16 Mar 2021 Debated on - 22 Mar 2021 View Alison McGovern's petition debate contributionsWe want the government to recognise the importance of gyms, health clubs, leisure centres and swimming pools in empowering people to look after their health and stay fit and for them to open first as we come out of lockdown.
We're also calling for government to fund a Work Out to Help Out scheme.
Repeal the Coronavirus Act 2020
Gov Responded - 20 Oct 2020 Debated on - 22 Mar 2021 View Alison McGovern's petition debate contributionsThe Coronavirus Act grants potentially dangerous powers including to detain some persons indefinitely, to take biological samples, and to give directions about dead bodies. Powers last up to 2 years with 6 monthly reviews, and lockdown powers could prevent protests against measures.
Prevent gyms closing due to a spike in Covid 19 cases
Gov Responded - 28 Oct 2020 Debated on - 23 Nov 2020 View Alison McGovern's petition debate contributionsIn the event of a spike we would like you not to close gyms as a measure to stop any spread of Covid. Also for gyms to not be put in the same group as pubs in terms of risk or importance. Gyms are following strict guidelines and most members are following rules in a sober manner.
Exempt golf courses from the list of venues required to close due to Covid-19
Gov Responded - 23 Nov 2020 Debated on - 23 Nov 2020 View Alison McGovern's petition debate contributionsIsolation essential to the Government’s strategy for fighting coronavirus, and UK citizens must remain healthy and exercise whilst keeping adequate distance between people. The Government should allow golf courses to open so families or individuals can play golf in order to exercise safely.
Allow football fans to attend matches at all levels
Gov Responded - 21 Oct 2020 Debated on - 9 Nov 2020 View Alison McGovern's petition debate contributionsFootball is a powerful tool of which allows a range of benefits such as employment, and other important aspects of life. Football can be associated with passion, emotion, excitement and dedication across the community. With Fans attending football games a range of economic benefits are there too.
These initiatives were driven by Alison McGovern, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
Alison McGovern has not been granted any Urgent Questions
Alison McGovern has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to amend the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 to broaden the scope of the general duty of library authorities so as to include a duty to provide related cultural facilities alongside the library service; and for connected purposes.
Public Advocate (No. 2) Bill 2019-21 - Private Members' Bill (under the Ten Minute Rule)
Sponsor - Maria Eagle (LAB)
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2019 - Private Members' Bill (Presentation Bill)
Sponsor - Yvette Cooper (LAB)
Tyres (Buses and Coaches) Bill 2017-19 - Private Members' Bill (under the Ten Minute Rule)
Sponsor - Maria Eagle (LAB)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.
This Government recognises the importance of the UK’s thriving cultural industries, and that is why it pushed for ambitious arrangements to make it easier for performers and artists to perform across Europe as part of the negotiations on our future relationship with the EU.
This Government proposed to the EU that musicians, and their technical staff, be added to the list of permitted activities for short-term business visitors in the entry and temporary stay chapter of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. This would have allowed musicians and their staff to travel and perform in the EU more easily, without needing work-permits.
The UK’s legal texts reflected this position, as the EU has now acknowledged. These texts are confidential negotiating documents and it is not appropriate for them to be published.
The Government welcomes the social responsibility that most businesses have shown in responding to the pandemic, including making their premises Covid-secure by using the Safer Working guidance led by Government. Groups such as Business in the Community are continuing to coordinate help for communities in need; and the CBI-backed Good Business Charter continues to promote corporate social responsibility.
The minimum wage rates are set on the expert and independent advice of the Low Pay Commission (LPC). This year, we asked the LPC to recommend the National Living Wage rate which should apply from April 2021 in order to reach two-thirds of median earnings by 2024, taking economic conditions into account.
The Government asks the Low Pay Commission to monitor the labour market and the impacts of the National Living Wage closely, advising on any emerging risks, to ensure that the lowest-paid workers continue to see pay rises without significant risks to their employment prospects.
We will announce the 2021 Minimum Wage rates in due course. A full Impact Assessment estimating the benefits and costs to employers and workers will be published alongside the legislation. We estimated that over 2 million workers benefitted from the increase earlier this year, which gave a full-time worker on the NLW an increase of £930 over the year.
Last year we quickly established one of the largest asymptomatic testing programmes in the world. We have now conducted over 90m lateral flow tests in England alone, finding nearly 200k cases. Home testing has been confirmed for some Events Research Programme (ERP) pilots only, and is not indicative of Step 4 policy decisions. ERP learnings will feed into wider policy making on step 4, and further details on broader testing policy will be released in due course. Current asymptomatic testing is available until 31 July, with further decisions on extending this to be taken in line with Step 4 of the Prime Minister's roadmap.
DCMS continues to work closely with other government departments, academic institutions and stakeholders to review evidence on the impact of ongoing restrictions within the live events industries.
Most of the financial support schemes do not end until September or after, in order to provide continuity and certainty for businesses.
Throughout this pandemic there has been over £400 billion of economic support, one of the most generous and comprehensive packages in the world.
Although there is no current plan to make a statement on financial situations of individual sectors/settings, our engagements have helped us to understand both the nature and scale of the impact that this particular industry has faced.
The Events Research Programme report was published on Friday 25 June and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/events-research-programme-phase-i-findings
The Events Research Programme is a joint programme between DCMS, DHSC, and BEIS overseen by an industry-led steering group co-chaired by Sir Nicholas Hytner and David Ross. Evidence from the pilot events is considered by the group to make recommendations to the Prime Minister and the Secretaries of State for DCMS, BEIS and DHSC on how restrictions could be safely lifted at Step 4 of the Roadmap.
The report has been subject to a comprehensive and rigorous coordination and approval process across departments, academic institutions and ERP governance boards, and takes into account the latest public health data.
The Events Research Programme report was published on Friday 25 June and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/events-research-programme-phase-i-findings
The Events Research Programme is a joint programme between DCMS, DHSC, and BEIS overseen by an industry-led steering group co-chaired by Sir Nicholas Hytner and David Ross. Evidence from the pilot events is considered by the group to make recommendations to the Prime Minister and the Secretaries of State for DCMS, BEIS and DHSC on how restrictions could be safely lifted at Step 4 of the Roadmap.
The report has been subject to a comprehensive and rigorous coordination and approval process across departments, academic institutions and ERP governance boards, and takes into account the latest public health data.
We recognise the challenging times facing all sectors currently, and continue to support them in line with the prime minister's roadmap to the full reopening of the economy.
Although we have no plans currently to publish an assessment, the Department has been working closely with stakeholders across large event settings throughout the pandemic, and this has helped us to understand both the nature and the scale of the impact this sector has faced.
Step 4 of The Prime Minister's roadmap allows large events to go ahead in Summer 2021 without restrictions. The roadmap sets out a cautious and gradual approach - led by data, not dates - and while we know there may be loss of some business as a result of the delay to step 4, public health must remain the government’s top priority.
The Government recognises that it is important that artists are fairly remunerated for their work. We are aware of the concerns that have been raised recently with regards to artists’ revenue from music streaming. The Government welcomes the DCMS Select Committee inquiry into the economics of music streaming, and we have provided evidence to inform the inquiry. We look forward to receiving the Committee’s recommendations, which we will respond to.
We will continue to encourage the ongoing dialogue between music creators, record labels, and streaming services on this issue. The Government has funded a 12-month industry-led research project investigating the flow of money from streaming to creators which is due to report this summer.
The Government has not made a specific assessment of the implications of what was set out in the letter from artists to the Prime Minister, but we are considering the issues relating to music streaming more generally.
We welcome the DCMS Select Committee inquiry into the economics of music streaming, and have provided evidence to inform the inquiry. We look forward to receiving the Committee’s recommendations, which we will respond to. We will also be happy to consider any meeting requests from interested stakeholders as appropriate.
The Government has funded a 12-month industry-led research project investigating the flow of money from streaming to creators which is due to report this summer. We will continue to encourage the ongoing dialogue between music creators, record labels, and streaming services on this issue.
The Government recognises that it is important that artists are fairly remunerated for their work. We are aware of the concerns that have been raised recently about artists’ revenue from music streaming.
We welcome the DCMS Select Committee inquiry into the economics of music streaming, and have provided evidence to inform the inquiry. We look forward to receiving the Committee’s recommendations, which we will respond to.
The Government has funded a 12-month industry-led research project investigating the flow of money from streaming to creators which is due to report this summer. We will continue to encourage the ongoing dialogue between music creators, record labels, and streaming services on this issue.
The Department continuously meets with a range of DCMS stakeholders to discuss matters, including the return of fans. However, neither Ministers nor officials met with representatives of Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City football clubs in advance of the Super League announcement.
The full list of Ministerial meetings can be found on gov.uk.
The Government is committed to tackling inequalities in sport and physical activity. Our strategy ‘Sporting Future’ sets out a clear ambition to increase levels of physical activity amongst under-represented groups. We are working closely with Sport England, DCMS’s arm’s length body for grassroots sport in England, to ensure that inequalities are being tackled effectively.
The £20 million Tackling Inequalities Fund (TIF) is an important part of the £270 million support package that Sport England has committed to directly reduce the negative impact COVID 19 and the widening of inequalities in sport and physical activity.
The fund is a focused approach to increasing physical activity for four under-represented groups: lower socio-economic groups, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, disabled people, and people with long-term health conditions. Currently, £13.5 million has been awarded, and £9.7m of this has already reached community organisations and groups directly through 42 Active Partnerships and 30 national partners across the country. As a result there are over 2,800 projects actively being delivered by trusted partners closer to the communities that have previously been unserved by more traditional delivery structures.
Tackling inequalities is also at the heart of Sport England’s recently launched new ten year strategy, ‘Uniting the Movement’, reinforcing their commitment to diversifying participation. DCMS will continue to work closely with Sport England to ensure that inequalities are addressed and tackled in sport and physical activity.
The National Leisure Recovery Fund sought to support eligible public sector leisure centres to reopen to the public, giving the sport and physical activity sector the best chance of recovery to a position of sustainable operation over the medium term. It was delivered in conjunction with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Sport England.
A total of £100 million was available as a biddable fund to eligible local authorities in England, which was allocated in a single funding round. Eligible local authorities include: those in England who hold responsibility for the provision of leisure services, those who have outsourced their leisure provision to an external body to and those whose outsourced leisure arrangements have ended since 20 March 2020 and services are now delivered as an in-house function. This is in addition to the wider financial support provided to councils throughout the pandemic.
As part of the National Leisure Recovery Fund, the government has set up a data capture system to show how the fund has supported the reopening of these vital community assets and the impact on the rate of participation across Local Authorities. Early information will be available at the end of the month and will help to inform future government policy in this space.
Sports and physical activity are incredibly important for our physical and mental health, and are a vital weapon against coronavirus. That’s why we have made sure that people can exercise throughout the national restrictions.
We know that high quality multi-use local green spaces can play a key role as sporting venues and as alternative settings for sport and healthy activity. Last month Sport England published its new strategy Uniting the Movement which sets out their 10 year vision to transform lives and communities through sport and physical activity. A key part of the strategy is creating and protecting the local places and spaces that make it easier for people to be active including encouraging walking and cycling.
Last year, Public Health England published Improving Access to Greenspace. The report highlights the strong evidence that regular physical activity supports both individual and community outcomes such as increasing educational attainment, improving self-esteem and reducing social isolation and that greenspace can support higher levels of physical activity.
The Government is committed to tackling inequalities in sport and physical activity. Our strategy ‘Sporting Future’ sets out a clear ambition to increase levels of physical activity amongst under-represented groups, working closely with the sector to achieve this. The Tackling Inequalities Fund is an important part of the £270 million support package that Sport England, DCMS’s arm’s length body for grassroots sport in England, has committed to directly support community sport clubs and exercise centres through COVID-19.
The £20 million Tackling Inequalities Fund aims to reduce the disproportionately negative impact of the pandemic on physical activity levels for four groups: lower socio-economic groups, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, disabled people, and people with long-term health conditions. Currently, £13.5 million has been awarded to partners, funding over 2,800 projects being delivered through 43 Active Partnerships and 30 national partners across the country.
Sport England’s recently launched new ten year strategy, Uniting the Movement, also reinforces their commitment to diversifying participation and tackling inequalities in sport and physical activity. DCMS will continue to work closely with Sport England to ensure that inequalities are addressed and tackled in sport and physical activity.
The National Leisure Recovery Fund sought to support eligible public sector leisure centres to reopen to the public, giving the sport and physical activity sector the best chance of recovery to a position of sustainable operation over the medium term.
A total of £100 million was available as a biddable fund to eligible local authorities in England, which was allocated in a single funding round. Eligible local authorities include: those in England who hold responsibility for the provision of leisure services, those who have outsourced their leisure provision to an external body to and those whose outsourced leisure arrangements have ended since 20 March 2020 and services are now delivered as an in-house function. This is in addition to the wider financial support provided to councils throughout the pandemic.
To help ensure an equitable distribution of the National Leisure Recovery Fund, a Notional Funding Allocation was calculated for each eligible local authority and funding awards were only made in excess of the Notional Funding Allocation in the most exceptional circumstances. The basis of the Notional Funding Allocation is a per capita allocation. This has then been adjusted to take into consideration physical activity levels, number of facilities and health outcome indicators.
Government has worked closely with the Local Government Association (LGA), ukactive, the District Councils' Network, Community Leisure UK, Chief Cultural and Leisure Officers Association and others to make sure the application and funding process is as fast and simple as possible.
The National Leisure Recovery Fund sought to support eligible public sector leisure centres to reopen to the public, giving the sport and physical activity sector the best chance of recovery to a position of sustainable operation over the medium term.
A total of £100 million was available as a biddable fund to eligible local authorities in England, which was allocated in a single funding round. Eligible local authorities include: those in England who hold responsibility for the provision of leisure services, those who have outsourced their leisure provision to an external body to and those whose outsourced leisure arrangements have ended since 20 March 2020 and services are now delivered as an in-house function. This is in addition to the wider financial support provided to councils throughout the pandemic.
To help ensure an equitable distribution of the National Leisure Recovery Fund, a Notional Funding Allocation was calculated for each eligible local authority and funding awards were only made in excess of the Notional Funding Allocation in the most exceptional circumstances. The basis of the Notional Funding Allocation is a per capita allocation. This has then been adjusted to take into consideration physical activity levels, number of facilities and health outcome indicators.
Government has worked closely with the Local Government Association (LGA), ukactive, the District Councils' Network, Community Leisure UK, Chief Cultural and Leisure Officers Association and others to make sure the application and funding process is as fast and simple as possible.
Sports and physical activity are incredibly important for our physical and mental health and have been shown to treat, manage and prevent a range of conditions including heart disease, cancers, diabetes, stress, depression or anxiety. It can also bring communities together and tackle issues such as loneliness.
Sport England’s Active Lives Adult and Children surveys provide information not only on activity levels but also on social outcomes such as physical and mental wellbeing too. The latest reports can be found here.
In September last year, Sport England published research (undertaken by Sheffield Hallam University) on the social impact and the economic importance of sport and physical activity in England. The findings of this research show that for every £1 spent on community sport and physical activity in England, an economic and social return on investment of £3.91 is generated. In addition, the combined economic and social value (SROI) of taking part in community sport and physical activity in England in 2017/2018 was £85.5 billion.
Furthermore, last month Sport England published its new strategy Uniting the Movement which sets out their 10 year vision to transform lives and communities through sport and physical activity. The strategy seeks to tackle the inequalities we have seen in sport and physical activity and provide opportunities to people and communities that have traditionally been left behind, helping to remove barriers to activity.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) engages regularly with representatives of the creative industries on the Covid-19 response, including on economic support and public health policy and guidance. This includes engagement through the working groups on Entertainment and Events and on Broadcasting, Film and Production, which were established with the DCMS Secretary of State’s Cultural Renewal Taskforce.
In addition, DCMS engages with creative industries stakeholders through roundtables and other meetings chaired by ministers, and ongoing, frequent engagement by DCMS officials. DCMS will continue to collaborate with creative industries organisations on the Government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has engaged with the creative sectors extensively throughout negotiations with the EU and since the announcement of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
At both a ministerial and official level, we hold roundtables to engage with the creative sectors on EU Exit and the UK-EU future relationship. We also engage directly with stakeholders together with Arm's-Length Bodies, on matters relating to EU Exit.
We are committed to continuing our close dialogue with the sectors to ensure they continue to have the support they need to navigate the changes to their ways of working resulting from the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
Ministers have regular discussions with their Cabinet Colleagues on a wide range of issues, including cross-border mobility with the EU for musicians and creative workers.
The Secretary of State had discussions with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster this week on the issues faced by creative workers and possible options to support the sectors.
The Government recognises the importance of touring for our world-leading cultural and creative sectors. We have been engaging extensively with the industry to assess impact and further understandings of new requirements for working in the EU. The Secretary of State held a very productive meeting with representatives from across the creative and cultural industries on Wednesday 20th January. Going forward, we are committed to continuing our close dialogue with the sector to ensure they have the support they need to thrive.
Definitions for professionals working in film and television production have been introduced in order to implement the limited exemption to the quarantine regime for the cast and crew of qualifying productions.
The Government is committed to supporting the continued production of film and television content during the ongoing Covid pandemic. As part of the new Health Protection Regulations, the Government has stated that people who cannot work from home should go to their place of work. This means that even in these circumstances film and television production can continue in line with any additional guidance provided. The Government has supported the sector to develop guidance to allow productions to operate safely, and introduced a limited exemption to the quarantine regime for the cast and crew of qualifying productions, in order to restart those productions which rely on international talent.
Football clubs are the bedrock of our local communities. Many public studies demonstrate the significant economic benefit that football clubs bring to towns across the country. These include EY’s Economic and Social Impact Assessment which estimates that the Premier League alone contributes £7.6bn to the UK's Gross Domestic Product.
That is why we have provided unprecedented support to businesses through tax reliefs, cash grants and employee wage support, which many football clubs have benefited from. Sport England’s Community Emergency Fund has also provided £210 million directly to support community sport clubs and exercise centres through this pandemic.
We have been clear that we expect the game - where it can at the top tiers - to support itself. The Government is focusing its support on those in the sector most in need as a result of the decision not to readmit spectators to stadia from 1 October. We therefore provided the National League with assurances that financial support from the Government will be forthcoming so they could start their season on 3rd October.
On 22 September it was announced that all sports pilot events currently ongoing would be paused with immediate effect, due to the sharp upward trajectory of Covid-19 cases nationally. A?s set out in our Roadmap, sports events pilots, and the full return of fans to stadia would only ever take place when it was safe to do so in this country.
We are committed to getting spectators back into stadiums as soon as it is safe to do so. We will continue to work closely with a whole range of sports to understand the latest thinking that might allow spectators to return. This includes the creation of a new Sports Technology Innovation Working Group of sporting bodies and health experts to analyse new technologies which might support this, and which will consider international best practice. This will supplement the draft government guidance, and the SGSA supplementary guidance to their Green Guide, which has been internationally welcomed and is now also available in French and Spanish translations.
If transmission rates decrease then we will of course take the opportunity to look again at getting spectators back into stadiums and remain mindful of international efforts to do the same
On 22 September it was announced that all sports pilot events currently ongoing would be paused with immediate effect, due to the sharp upward trajectory of Covid-19 cases nationally. A?s set out in our Roadmap, sports events pilots, and the full return of fans to stadia would only ever take place when it was safe to do so in this country.
We are committed to getting spectators back into stadiums as soon as it is safe to do so. We will continue to work closely with a whole range of sports to understand the latest thinking that might allow spectators to return. This includes the creation of a new Sports Technology Innovation Working Group of sporting bodies and health experts to analyse new technologies which might support this, and which will consider international best practice. This will supplement the draft government guidance, and the SGSA supplementary guidance to their Green Guide, which has been internationally welcomed and is now also available in French and Spanish translations.
If transmission rates decrease then we will of course take the opportunity to look again at getting spectators back into stadiums and remain mindful of international efforts to do the same
Our performing arts and sport guidance makes clear the need for organisers of cultural and sporting events to adhere to government requirements around the NHS Test and Trace system.
Organisers of events should assist the NHS Test and Trace service by keeping a temporary record of spectators for 21 days, in a way that is manageable for their business, and assist NHS Test and Trace with requests for that data if needed. This could help contain clusters or outbreaks.
The Government is continuing to engage with business and industry as we approach the end of the transition period and is working to ensure freelancers, organisations and businesses know what they need to do to prepare.
On 1st September 2020, the Government launched a comprehensive communications campaign to help the UK prepare for the end of the transition period. This includes guidance on customs and mobility procedures important to professionals in the live music industry, including freelance musicians and touring professionals. My department will continue to engage with the creative industries to understand further the specific issues they may face.
The Government is continuing to engage with business and industry as we approach the end of the transition period and is working to ensure freelancers, organisations and businesses know what they need to do to prepare.
On 1st September 2020, the Government launched a comprehensive communications campaign to help the UK prepare for the end of the transition period. This includes guidance on customs and mobility procedures important to professionals in the live music industry, including freelance musicians and touring professionals. My department will continue to engage with the creative industries to understand further the specific issues they may face.
The Government is continuing to engage with business and industry as we approach the end of the transition period and is working to ensure freelancers, organisations and businesses know what they need to do to prepare.
On 1st September 2020, the Government launched a comprehensive communications campaign to help the UK prepare for the end of the transition period. This includes guidance on customs and mobility procedures important to professionals in the live music industry, including freelance musicians and touring professionals. My department will continue to engage with the creative industries to understand further the specific issues they may face.
The Government is continuing to engage with business and industry as we approach the end of the transition period and is working to ensure freelancers, organisations and businesses know what they need to do to prepare.
On 1st September 2020, the Government launched a comprehensive communications campaign to help the UK prepare for the end of the transition period. This includes guidance on customs and mobility procedures important to professionals in the live music industry, including freelance musicians and touring professionals. My department will continue to engage with the creative industries to understand further the specific issues they may face.
DCMS Ministers and officials continue to engage extensively with representatives from across the cultural sector, including with musicians and music sector representative bodies, on the impact of the end of the transition period on musicians working in EU countries.
Over the coming months, as the transition period concludes, and beyond we will maintain our close dialogue with the sector to assess the challenges and support the opportunities that will arise as we enter into to new trading relationships with Europe and the rest of the world.
On 18th August, the Government amended its guidance to provide extra clarification for organisers of non-elite sports events to help them manage and admit spectators safely, adhering to social distancing.
This includes having a named person with responsibility for ensuring adherence with government guidelines and ensuring the facility is COVID-19 secure. This person should carry out and publish a risk assessment for the activity which limits the number of spectators and focuses on the need to maintain social distancing on arrival, for the duration of the activity, and on departure.
The Government will continue to monitor the admittance of spectators and the wider prevailing public health factors closely.
Football clubs form a vital part of our local communities and many have a great history. It is vital that they are protected during these difficult times.
The Government has provided unprecedented support to businesses throughout this period, including a comprehensive and sizable package of direct fiscal support for business through tax reliefs, cash grants and employee wage support. Many football clubs have benefited from these measures.
The Government is in regular dialogue with the football authorities to understand their financial position - but has been absolutely clear that it expects football to look first at how it can support itself through these difficult times.
The Government continues to liaise closely with the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) and sporting bodies whilst developing its guidance to support the safe return of spectators to stadia more widely from October 1st. As announced by the Prime Minister, this remains subject to successful pilots events, which will now be capped at 1,000 people, and wider prevailing public health factors.
Capacity limits and ticketing processes will vary based on individual venues and events. Pilots will still be required to receive all relevant local authorisations including their local Safety Advisory Group. Locations and attendance levels may change depending on the local Covid situation. Maximum safe capacity, as a consequence of social distancing guidance, can be calculated through the SGSA’s supplementary guidance to their Green Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds.
Sports and physical activity facilities play a crucial role in supporting adults and children to be active.
The Government is committed to reopening facilities as soon as it is safe to do so including indoor gyms and sports centres. The Sport Working Group, led by myself, feeds into the Secretary of State’s Cultural Renewal Taskforce and ensures strong sector and expert support for the co-development of guidelines and will help leisure facilities become Covid-secure and re-open as early as possible in July.
As with all aspects of the Government’s response to Covid-19, we will be guided by the science to ensure that as restrictions are eased people can return to activity safely.
Sports and physical activity facilities play a crucial role in supporting adults and children to be active.
The Government is committed to reopening facilities as soon as it is safe to do so including indoor gyms and sports centres. The Sport Working Group, led by myself, feeds into the Secretary of State’s Cultural Renewal Taskforce and ensures strong sector and expert support for the co-development of guidelines and will help leisure facilities become Covid-secure and re-open as early as possible in July.
As with all aspects of the Government’s response to Covid-19, we will be guided by the science to ensure that as restrictions are eased people can return to activity safely.
Sports and physical activity facilities play a crucial role in supporting adults and children to be active.
The Government is committed to reopening facilities as soon as it is safe to do so including indoor gyms and sports centres. The Sport Working Group, led by myself, feeds into the Secretary of State’s Cultural Renewal Taskforce and ensures strong sector and expert support for the co-development of guidelines and will help leisure facilities become Covid-secure and re-open as early as possible in July.
As with all aspects of the Government’s response to Covid-19, we will be guided by the science to ensure that as restrictions are eased people can return to activity safely.
Sports and physical activity facilities play a crucial role in supporting adults and children to be active.
The Government is committed to reopening facilities as soon as it is safe to do so including indoor gyms and sports centres. The Sport Working Group, led by myself, feeds into the Secretary of State’s Cultural Renewal Taskforce and ensures strong sector and expert support for the co-development of guidelines and will help leisure facilities become Covid-secure and re-open as early as possible in July.
As with all aspects of the Government’s response to Covid-19, we will be guided by the science to ensure that as restrictions are eased people can return to activity safely.
The Government has committed to investing an additional £550m into grassroots football facilities over the next 10 years. This will bring the government’s total investment over that period to £730m, and will support the bid for the 2030 Men’s FIFA Football World Cup.
The FA has produced, in partnership with the Premier League, Sport England and DCMS, the 'National Football Facilities Strategy' (NFSS), which is a coherent overarching shared strategy for capital investment in football over the next ten years.
As part of the NFFS, a 'Local Football Facilities Plan' is being produced for every Local Authority across the country to create a tailored local investment plan.
The Government is committed to supporting grassroots football. The established partnership with the Football Association and the Premier League sees a combined £70m go to new facilities delivered by the Football Foundation. All funding parties are represented on the Football Foundation board.
Government has committed to investing a further £550m into grassroots football facilities over the next 10 years to support plans to bid for the 2030 Men’s FIFA Football World Cup.
The FA has produced, in partnership with the Premier League, Sport England and DCMS, the 'National Football Facilities Strategy' (NFSS), which is a coherent overarching shared strategy for capital investment in football over the next ten years. This sets out the football facility requirements across the country and the intention to invest in 20,000 improved grass pitches and 1,000 3G facilities.
The Foundation has coverage across the whole country with funding reaching 98% of all local authorities and boroughs in England so far. As part of the NFFS, a 'Local Football Facilities Plan' is being produced for every Local Authority across the country to create a tailored local investment plan. This will help the Football Foundation prioritise its investment most efficiently and effectively.
The Government is committed to supporting grassroots football. The established partnership with the Football Association and the Premier League sees a combined £70m go to new facilities delivered by the Football Foundation. All funding parties are represented on the Football Foundation board.
Government has committed to investing a further £550m into grassroots football facilities over the next 10 years to support plans to bid for the 2030 Men’s FIFA Football World Cup.
The FA has produced, in partnership with the Premier League, Sport England and DCMS, the 'National Football Facilities Strategy' (NFSS), which is a coherent overarching shared strategy for capital investment in football over the next ten years. This sets out the football facility requirements across the country and the intention to invest in 20,000 improved grass pitches and 1,000 3G facilities.
The Foundation has coverage across the whole country with funding reaching 98% of all local authorities and boroughs in England so far. As part of the NFFS, a 'Local Football Facilities Plan' is being produced for every Local Authority across the country to create a tailored local investment plan. This will help the Football Foundation prioritise its investment most efficiently and effectively.
In addition to publicly available Government advice/guidance, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is holding weekly meetings with senior medical officials and sport representatives to discuss key issues around Covid-19 and communicates regularly with stakeholders across the sporting sector to share the latest advice. We will maintain these discussions as elite sport develops its plans to retain training and to restart competition.
The Government announced on 30 April that the Rugby Football League (RFL) will receive an emergency loan of £16 million to safeguard the immediate future of the sport for the communities it serves.
The Government recognises the impact that covid-19 is having on the sporting sector. The Chancellor has announced an unprecedented package of measures to help businesses in this period, including £330 billion worth of government-backed and guaranteed loans to support businesses across the UK.
Those support measures, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, and Self-Employed Income Support Scheme are open to businesses across the UK and in every sector, including Sport.
In addition, Sport England, has also announced £195 million of funding to help sport and physical activity organisations deal with the short and long term effects of the pandemic.
The RFL is fully engaged with the process and is ensuring that the sport as a whole is aware of the assistance available and how to access support. It is a matter for individual clubs to pursue the support appropriate for their situation.
We know this is a challenging period for all sports and we continue to work closely with the whole sector to understand the issues they face and how we can best support them through this difficult time.
I am having regular discussions with sector and industry bodies to understand the impact of COVID-19 on sport and how we can provide support. This includes chairing a fortnightly meeting with over 25 sporting organisations. Sport England, the arms-length body of government responsible for growing and developing grassroots sport, have been involved in these discussions. In addition to this, my officials maintain daily contact with the sector.
The Chancellor has already announced a host of measures to help businesses, with £330 billion worth of government backed and guaranteed loans to support businesses across the UK. In addition, Sport England, has also announced £195 million of funding to help sport and physical activity organisations deal with the short and long term effects of the pandemic.
The government is in regular contact with representatives of sports, including cricket, to discuss both the impact of Covid-19 on sports and to explore how and when grassroots sport can safely resume once lockdown restrictions start to ease. The government has asked individual sports to consider the steps that would need to be taken, and the conditions that would need to be met, for their activity to resume.
The government has been clear that any return to sport will need to be consistent with existing guidelines on public health and managed in a way that minimises risk.
The Government recognises the impact that covid-19 is having on the sporting sector. The Chancellor has announced an unprecedented package of measures to help businesses in this period, including £330 billion worth of government-backed and guaranteed loans to support businesses across the UK.
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, and Self-Employed Income Support Scheme support measures are open to businesses across the UK and in every sector, including Sport.
In addition, Sport England, has also announced £195 million of funding to help sport and physical activity organisations deal with the short and long term effects of the pandemic.
The England and Wales Cricket Board is fully engaged with the process and is ensuring that the sport as a whole is aware of the assistance available and how to access support. It is a matter for individual clubs to pursue the support appropriate for their situation.
We know this is a challenging period for all sports and we continue to work closely with the whole sector to understand the issues they face and how we can best support them through this difficult time.
Football clubs form an integral part of this country and it is important they are given as much support as possible during these difficult times.
In light of this, the Government announced a comprehensive and sizable package of direct fiscal support for business through tax reliefs, cash grants and employee wage support.
It is also vital that the football community comes together at this time, and I welcomed the Premier League announcement to advance funds of £125 million to the EFL and National League to help clubs throughout the football pyramid. The EFL has also announced a £50m relief fund to help their clubs enduring immediate cash flow problems because of the coronavirus crisis.
The Government will continue to liaise closely with all the football authorities to further understand the difficulties clubs are experiencing.
Tackling the covid-19 outbreak is the Government’s top priority, and unfortunately the actions taken to do so have meant that sports events have had to be postponed or cancelled. We are in regular contact with the sport sector - including football clubs - on the financial consequences of this for organisations.
The Government has announced a comprehensive and sizable package of direct fiscal support for business through tax reliefs, cash grants and employee wage support.
It is also vital that the football community comes together at this time, and I welcomed the Premier League announcement to advance funds of £125 million to the EFL and National League to help clubs throughout the football pyramid.
We recognise the impact that covid-19 is having on the sport sector, and we are continuing to engage with sporting organisations to understand how it is affecting them and provide support.
The Chancellor has already announced a host of measures to help businesses, with £330 billion worth of government backed and guaranteed loans to support businesses across the UK. In addition, our national sports council, Sport England, has also announced £195 million of funding to help sport and physical activity organisations deal with the short and long term effects of the pandemic.
In January and February 2021, reported to date, there have been 49,550 apprenticeship starts in England. The attached table contains breakdowns of these 49,550 starts by sector subject area and level.
The last publication of apprenticeship starts by region covers August 2020 to January 2021, reported to date, and can be found in the 'Geographical breakdowns' section of the 'Apprenticeships and traineeships' release: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships-and-traineeships/2020-21.
The next update of apprenticeship starts by region will be published in July 2021.
In January and February 2021, reported to date, there have been 49,550 apprenticeship starts in England. The attached table contains breakdowns of these 49,550 starts by sector subject area and level.
The last publication of apprenticeship starts by region covers August 2020 to January 2021, reported to date, and can be found in the 'Geographical breakdowns' section of the 'Apprenticeships and traineeships' release: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships-and-traineeships/2020-21.
The next update of apprenticeship starts by region will be published in July 2021.
Pupil counts by year group are published in the annual “Schools, pupils and their characteristics” statistical release. This includes pupils who are coming to the end of their secondary education in Year 11 and those in Years 12 to 14 in school sixth forms. Data relating to the 2020/21 academic year will be published in June 2021 at the following link: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics.
The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects and publishes data on students enrolled in higher education (HE) in the UK.
The latest statistics on students graduating from HE refer to the academic year 2019/20. They are available in Figure 15 (https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis/sb258/figure-15) of the HESA publication ‘Higher Education Statistics: UK’: https://www.hesa.ac.uk/news/27-01-2021/sb258-higher-education-student-statistics.
Statistics about students obtaining qualifications in the 2020/21 academic year will be published by the HESA in January 2022. The department does not hold an estimate of how many students are expected to graduate.
Apprenticeships will be more important than ever in helping businesses to recruit the right people and develop the skills they need to recover and grow. To help employers offer new apprenticeships, they are now able to claim £2,000 for every new apprentice they hire under the age of 25, in recognition of the particular impacts of COVID-19 on the employment prospects of this group, and £1,500 for new apprentices aged 25 and over. These incentive payments were announced as part of the government’s Plan for Jobs in July 2020 and the extension of the scheme (to the end of March 2021) was announced in the November Spending Review. Employers have been able to register to claim the incentive since 1 September 2020.
It is encouraging that employers continue to see the value apprentices can bring to their businesses; as of 1 December 2020 employers had so far claimed incentive payments for 11,520 apprentices. We do not hold figures for incentive payments by industry sector.
Updated figures will be published in the ‘Apprenticeships and traineeships: January 2021’ statistics publication on 28 January 2021, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements/apprenticeships-and-traineeships-january-2021.
The continuing provision of free school meals to children from out of work families or those on low incomes is of the utmost importance to this government. Guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools.
The department does not hold a contract with any provider to provide free school meals of lunch parcels to children. School catering contracts are agreed locally, and are held at school, academy trust, or local authority level. We have guidance in place allowing schools to decide the best approach for supporting free school meal pupils who are at home. This can be through lunch parcels, local vouchers or the national voucher scheme which was available from Monday.
The images circulating of poor-quality food parcels are unacceptable. On 13 January 2021, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, met with Chartwell’s and other leading school food suppliers and caterers to insist on urgent action to make sure lunch parcels meet the standards we expect. We are grateful to those firms who are working hard with schools to provide nutritious, balanced lunches for children.
If a parent is concerned about the standards of their lunch parcel, they should speak directly with their school. If a parent cannot resolve their concern through their school, they can contact the department. The department will make contact with suppliers where concerns are escalated, to ensure they are following the good practice guidance we have set out. We will also alert the school to confirm appropriate contract management arrangements are in place, so that immediate improvements are made.
The most recent statistics on apprenticeship starts by industry sector cover the academic years 2012/13 to 2018/19 and are published on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/apprenticeships-in-england-by-industry-characteristics
The following table shows the number of apprenticeship starts in the manufacturing industry in England between academic years 2012/13 and 2018/19.
| Academic year | ||||||
| 2012/13 | 2013/14 | 2014/15 | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 | 2018/19 |
Total matched apprenticeship starts | 450,710 | 388,590 | 445,910 | 457,020 | 449,830 | 346,840 | 366,170 |
C - Manufacturing | 29,780 | 27,230 | 32,180 | 36,820 | 36,170 | 26,160 | 26,850 |
Data previous to 2012/13 is unavailable and data for 2019/20 will be published in February 2021.
The department does not hold information on the income backgrounds of apprentices.
We publish breakdowns of apprenticeship starts by learner age:
We also publish breakdowns of apprenticeship starts by Indices of Multiple Deprivation of the learner’s home postcode from 2014/15 onwards: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships-and-traineeships.
We are not asking schools to open over the summer holidays. Teachers, support staff and head teachers deserve a break, to recharge and rest.
We are aware that some headteachers may be considering using their catch-up premium to provide summer school activities for their pupils. Where this is the case, they have the flexibility, discretion and autonomy to decide how they want to do this. To support schools in planning how to use the catch-up premium, the Education Endowment Foundation has produced a guide which includes advice on summer schools and contains a link to a Teach First toolkit specifically focused on summer schools, for schools that choose to do this.
Holiday clubs and out-of-school clubs for children will also be able to restart over the summer, with safety measures in place. These clubs will be part of Step 3 of the recovery strategy (from 4 July). We have published guidance for the sector on how to implement the protective measures necessary to open safely:
The Department for International Trade (DIT) has a dedicated creative industries team of 14 staff, a network of approximately 275 International Trade Advisors (ITAs) in the English regions supporting companies of all types, and trade policy, export and investment specialists in over a hundred countries globally.
My department has commissioned an independent evaluation of the economic benefits of the Music Export Growth Scheme, which will be completed by May 2021.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) aims to answer 95 per cent of hon. Members correspondence within eight working days. The impact of the pandemic and industrial action taken by the Public and Commercial Services union last year has resulted in delays in processing applications and a subsequent increase in correspondence. Correspondence relating to vehicle or enforcements work are all currently being answered within the timescale. Correspondence relating to drivers or drivers’ medical concerns are outside this target. For example in February 2022, the DVLA answered over 80 per cent of hon. Members correspondence in 20 working days.
The DVLA has allocated extra resource to the teams that deal with these enquiries and this is showing an improving picture. The DVLA also offers hon. Members a dedicated phone line for their use.
The quickest and easiest way to make an application to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is to use its extensive suite of online services. There are no delays in successful online applications and customers should receive their documents within a few days.
However, many people still choose or have to make a paper application and the DVLA receives around 60,000 items of mail every day. The DVLA has been working with a significantly reduced number of staff on site to ensure social distancing in line with Welsh Government requirements. Industrial action between April and the end of August by members of the Public and Commercial Services union and the current increased demand for the DVLA’s services has also contributed to delays with paper applications.
To help reduce waiting times for paper applications, the DVLA has introduced additional online services, recruited more staff, increased overtime working and has secured extra office space in Swansea and Birmingham. The DVLA has reconfigured its accommodation to safely maximise the number of staff on site and is working hard to process paper applications as quickly as possible. The latest information on turnaround times for paper driving licence applications can be found here.
These measures are having a positive impact. The queues are reducing, and customers will continue to see an improving picture in terms of turnaround times.
The original estimate of the average cost per participant on the Restart Scheme is approximately £2,000.
Please see the attached spreadsheet for details of the permanent and temporary DWP sites.
Sector-Based Work Academies were first launched in August 2011 in England and January 2012 in Scotland. Regular statistical releases on Sector-Based Work Academies, covering participation by those on legacy unemployment benefits, began in 2011 and ended in 2017. These statistics can be found here.
The scheme was relaunched as the Sector-based Work Academy Programme (SWAP) in July 2020 as part of the government’s Plan for Jobs. Data for the financial years 2020/21 and 2021/22 shows that as of 27th March 2022, there was a total of 149,980 starts to a SWAP. The breakdown of these starts by financial year is displayed in the following table:
Table 1: SWAP starts
Starts FY 2020/21 | Starts FY 2021/22 – to 27th March | Total Starts | |
Total SWAP Starts | 64,500 | 85,480 | 149,980 |
Note on above: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10; components may not sum due to rounding. These figures reflect the number of starts by claimants in receipt of Universal Credit (UC), Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Income Support (IS).
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19th January to question number 104377.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19th January to question number 104377.
Sector-based work academies were first launched in August 2011 in England and January 2012 in Scotland. Regular statistical releases on sector-based work academies, covering participation by those on legacy unemployment benefits, began in 2011 and ended in 2017. These statistics can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/employment-schemes-work-experience-sector-based-work-academy-and-skills-conditionality-starts-to-november-2017
The scheme was relaunched as ‘SWAP’ in July 2020 as part of the government’s Plan for Jobs. Data for the financial years 2020/21 and 2021/22 shows that as of 2nd January 2022, there was a total of 127,360 starts to a Sector-based Work Academy Programme (SWAP). The breakdown of these starts by nation and region is displayed in the following tables:
Table 1: SWAP starts by nation
Nation | Starts FY 2020/21 | Starts FY 2021/22 | Total Starts |
England | 58,310 | 56,760 | 115,070 |
Scotland | 6,120 | 5,750 | 11,880 |
Unknown | 60 | 350 | 410 |
Total | 64,500 | 62,860 | 127,360 |
Table 2: SWAP starts by region
Region | Starts FY 2020/21 | Starts FY 2021/22 | Total Starts |
West Midlands | 5,000 | 4,960 | 9,960 |
Central, East & North Scotland | 4,340 | 3,990 | 8,330 |
South & West Scotland | 1,780 | 1,770 | 3,550 |
London & Essex | 12,950 | 15,380 | 28,340 |
North & East Midlands | 7,800 | 7,120 | 14,920 |
North Central | 6,960 | 7,060 | 14,020 |
North East | 5,550 | 4,570 | 10,110 |
North West | 5,340 | 4,550 | 9,890 |
South East | 8,200 | 8,190 | 16,390 |
South West | 6,510 | 4,940 | 11,450 |
Unknown | 60 | 350 | 410 |
Total | 64,500 | 62,860 | 127,360 |
Note on above: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10; components may not sum due to rounding. These figures reflect the number of starts by claimants in receipt of Universal Credit (UC), Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Income Support (IS).
The total Staff in Post (SIP) for all Work Coach activity has been provided broken down by district. As of January 2022, the total number of Work Coaches in our Jobcentres is 27,049 SIP. It is not possible to give an exact number for each Jobcentre because Work Coaches work across whole of their district and sometimes beyond.
The standard DWP definition of Work Coach activity includes Disability Employment Adviser (DEA) activity. Also included here are a number of staff carrying out related activities including those in temporary Work Coach Team Leader roles.
JCP District | SIP |
Avon Somerset and Gloucestershire | 836 |
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire | 654 |
Berkshire Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire | 637 |
Birmingham and Solihull | 946 |
Black Country | 761 |
Central Scotland | 343 |
Cheshire | 359 |
Cumbria and Lancashire | 840 |
Devon and Cornwall | 691 |
Dorset Wiltshire Hampshire and Isle of Wight | 1024 |
Durham and Tees Valley | 626 |
East Anglia | 814 |
East London | 1257 |
East Scotland | 467 |
Essex | 738 |
Greater Manchester | 1384 |
Kent | 631 |
Leicestershire and Northamptonshire | 612 |
Lincolnshire Nottinghamshire and Rutland | 767 |
Mercia | 717 |
Merseyside | 874 |
National | 111 |
North and Mid Wales | 347 |
North East Scotland | 483 |
North East Yorkshire and Humber | 582 |
North London | 1026 |
Northern Scotland | 150 |
Northumberland Tyne and Wear | 699 |
South East Wales | 547 |
South London | 1314 |
South West Scotland | 395 |
South West Wales | 518 |
South Yorkshire | 651 |
Staffordshire and Derbyshire | 749 |
Surrey and Sussex | 877 |
West London | 1152 |
West Scotland | 404 |
West Yorkshire | 1066 |
Grand Total | 27049 |
The Government is committed to ensuring everyone, no matter their background, has the opportunity to start, stay and progress in work. We will publish our response to the In-work Progression Commission's report shortly, setting out our approach to supporting people on low pay and helping them to progress in work.
As of the 30th June there were over 243,000 jobs approved for funding by the Kickstart Scheme. We are unable at present to provide data on the number of approved jobs by region, as at that stage in the process we do not hold information about the exact location of a job, only the head office of the employer.
Over 145,000 jobs have been made available for young people to apply for and over 40,000 young people have started Kickstart jobs.
The table below shows the number of Kickstart jobs which have been offered and started by young people to date by geographical area of Great Britain. The figures used are correct as of the 30th June and these figures have been rounded according to departmental standards.
Although care is taken when processing and analysing Kickstart applications, referrals and starts, the data collected might be subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system, which has been developed quickly.
The management information presented here has not been subjected to the usual standard of quality assurance associated with official statistics, but is provided in the interests of transparency. Work is ongoing to improve the quality of information available for the programme.
Location | Jobs Advertised | Total Jobs Started |
East Midlands | 9,710 | 2,380 |
East of England | 11,410 | 2,890 |
London | 28,160 | 8,880 |
North East | 5,680 | 1,910 |
North West | 18,570 | 5,170 |
Scotland | 10,560 | 3,560 |
South East | 16,850 | 4,480 |
South West | 10,800 | 2,770 |
Wales | 8,200 | 2,120 |
West Midlands | 13,680 | 3,590 |
Yorkshire and The Humber | 11,360 | 3,070 |
*These numbers are rounded and so may not match provided totals. Jobs Advertised include 1,000 non-grant funded vacancies and around 900 starts to non-grant funded jobs |
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Conversations with claimants about the Restart Scheme have begun as of the 28th June, and referrals to providers are expected to start from 12th July.
Restart Scheme providers will deliver an intensive and tailored support offer to participants, aimed at helping them to get into sustained work. With each participant having a unique set of needs and aspirations, we can expect transitions to employment to happen at different points in their journeys.
As of the 16th June there were over 230,000 jobs approved for funding by the Kickstart Scheme. We are unable at present to provide data on the number of approved jobs by region, as at that stage in the process we do not hold information about the exact location of a job, only the head office of the employer.
Over 138,000 jobs have been made available for young people to apply for and over 36,000 young people have started Kickstart jobs. On average more than 500 young people started a Kickstart job a day between 22/04/2021 and 27/05/2021.
Below are tables listing the number of Kickstart jobs which have been offered and started by young people to date by geographical area of Great Britain and work sector. The figures in these tables are correct as of 16/06/2021 and these figures have been rounded according to departmental standards.
Location | Jobs Advertised | Total Jobs Started |
East Midlands | 9,320 | 2,060 |
East of England | 11,050 | 2,520 |
London | 27,020 | 7,780 |
North East | 5,420 | 1,650 |
North West | 17,490 | 4,650 |
Scotland | 10,190 | 3,090 |
South East | 16,060 | 3,960 |
South West | 10,240 | 2,450 |
Wales | 7,820 | 1,890 |
West Midlands | 12,910 | 3,170 |
Yorkshire and The Humber | 10,720 | 2,680 |
Rounded Totals | 138,290 | 36,000 |
*These numbers are rounded and so may not match provided totals. Jobs Advertised include 1,000 non-grant funded vacancies and around 900 starts to non-grant funded jobs |
|
|
Sector | Jobs Advertised | Total Jobs Started |
Administration | 34,940 | 9,230 |
Animal Care | 620 | 290 |
Beauty & Wellbeing | 1,000 | 280 |
Business & Finance | 4,990 | 1,260 |
Computing, Technology & Digital | 10,510 | 3,360 |
Construction & Trades | 4,420 | 1,210 |
Creative & Media | 10,610 | 3,760 |
Delivery & Storage | 4,080 | 1,090 |
Emergency & Uniform Services | 330 | 40 |
Engineering & Maintenance | 4,970 | 1,040 |
Environment & Land | 2,550 | 700 |
Government Services | 450 | 70 |
Healthcare | 4,470 | 940 |
Home Services | 1,040 | 150 |
Hospitality & Food | 12,630 | 2,320 |
Law & Legal | 310 | 130 |
Managerial | 930 | 200 |
Manufacturing | 3,340 | 990 |
Retail & Sales | 21,390 | 5,840 |
Science & Research | 690 | 150 |
Social Care | 3,390 | 530 |
Sports & Leisure | 3,210 | 790 |
Teaching & Education | 6,430 | 1,350 |
Transport | 510 | 80 |
Travel & Tourism | 480 | 100 |
Totals | 138,290 | 36,000 |
*These numbers are rounded and so may not match provided totals. Jobs Advertised include 1,000 non-grant funded vacancies and around 900 starts to non-grant funded jobs |
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The Department is supporting people across Great Britain who are most in need wherever they live. The Secretary of State, Ministers and Officials meet regularly with stakeholders to discuss a range of policy issues.
The Department engages regularly with local leaders, including the Mayoral Combined Authorities established in England, centrally and through the Work and Health Service network which has a strong operational presence in all regions. Policy and operational teams in DWP value local leaders’ insight and knowledge of their local labour markets. Local engagement has played an important role in our collaborative response to the pandemic and to support our economic recovery.
Policy teams frequently engage on a range of labour market initiatives, for example, on the Plan for Jobs. We have actively promoted the Kickstart Scheme and my officials have worked with local leaders to ensure the scheme can help as many young people as possible. Engagement with local leaders has also played a key part in the appointment of providers for the Restart employment scheme, which will start receiving referrals from 12th July. The Government will continue to engage local leaders as we develop the UKSPF’s investment framework and in advance of its publication.
Officials continue to keep their Scottish and Welsh Government counterparts updated on key labour market developments. DWP does not operate in Northern Ireland, but my Department has regular and frequent discussions with the Department for Communities on both policy and operational matters.
The most reliable data on youth unemployment in each region / nation of the UK is drawn from the Annual Population Survey. This is publicly available from the nomis website, at:
https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/datasets/aps170
The ONS also produce experimental statistics on ‘Regional labour market: Estimates of unemployment by age’, which is available at:
This latter source is less reliable, as it is based on the Labour Force Survey which has a smaller sample size. However, its results are more timely.
We are unable to provide an estimate of the proportion of SME employers participating in the Kickstart Scheme. However, we know that many small businesses have applied through approved gateway organisations. In February, the department removed the 30 job minimum requirement for applications to Kickstart to make the scheme more accessible to small businesses and sole traders giving them choice to apply direct or via one of over 900 Kickstart gateways organisations.
The Department for Work and Pensions will be monitoring and evaluating the Kickstart Scheme throughout and after its implementation. This will include a longer term evaluation of the outcomes and impact on young people after they have completed their six month Kickstart job placement.
Employers wishing to participate in the Kickstart scheme can apply direct or with the support of a Gateway organisation – a Gateway application will usually include jobs from a number of employers. As of 6th May (since the beginning of the Scheme) the average number of vacancies per approved Kickstart application is 15 for Employers, 41 for Gateways, and an average of 28 for both Employers and Gateways combined.
*the above figures have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Although care is taken when processing and analysing Kickstart applications, referrals and starts, the data collected might be subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system, which has been developed quickly.
The management information presented here has not been subjected to the usual standard of quality assurance associated with official statistics, but is provided in the interests of transparency. Work is ongoing to improve the quality of information available for the programme.
£2bn has been allocated to Kickstart to create hundreds of thousands of 6-month job placements for young people aged 16-24, to improve their long term employability. Kickstart placements commenced in October 2020 and eligible young people will be able to start new Kickstart jobs until December 2021, with the final cohort of six-month jobs coming to an end in Summer 2022. Kickstart funding is not capped and we expect to use all funding to provide jobs for young people by the end of the scheme. Details of spend is unavailable at this time but will become available following the completion of the audited accounts.
The Department does not have a projection.
Actual data on the number of people on UC is available at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/login.xhtml
Total UC caseload forecast can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2021
As of the 6th May 2021, over 108,000 jobs have been made available for young people to apply for through the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) Kickstart Scheme. This includes over 20,000 jobs started by young people.
There have been over 200,000 jobs approved by the scheme.
We are unable at present to provide data on the number of approved jobs by region, as at that stage in the process we do not hold information about the exact location of a job, only the head office of the employer. We do hold regional information on jobs made available for young people to apply for and for placements started, which is provided below.
The tables below show these figures split by location and sector, the data presented has been rounded according to DWP statistical rounding convention. Although care is taken when processing and analysing Kickstart applications, referrals and starts, the data collected might be subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system which has been developed quickly. The management information presented here has not been subjected to the usual standard of quality assurance associated with official statistics, but is provided in the interests of transparency. Work is ongoing to improve the quality of information available for the programme.
Location | Jobs Advertised | Total Jobs Started |
East Midlands | 7,270 | 1,120 |
East of England | 8,240 | 1,320 |
London | 22,740 | 4,500 |
North East | 4,560 | 960 |
North West | 13,560 | 2,840 |
Scotland | 7,540 | 1,770 |
South East | 12,320 | 2,350 |
South West | 7,670 | 1,440 |
Wales | 6,020 | 1,000 |
West Midlands | 10,030 | 1,850 |
Yorkshire and The Humber | 8,310 | 1,580 |
Figures may not add up to provided totals due to rounding. 1,000 non-grant funded jobs are included in Jobs Advertised but not included under Jobs Started. Total jobs started includes those which have been completed or ended early. |
Sector | Jobs Advertised | Total Jobs Started |
Administration | 27,950 | 5,370 |
Animal Care | 480 | 160 |
Beauty & Wellbeing | 740 | 150 |
Business & Finance | 4,040 | 750 |
Computing, Technology & Digital | 8,490 | 2,110 |
Construction & Trades | 3,600 | 700 |
Creative & Media | 8,420 | 2,180 |
Delivery & Storage | 3,320 | 670 |
Emergency & Uniform Services | 230 | 10 |
Engineering & Maintenance | 3,900 | 470 |
Environment & Land | 2,140 | 360 |
Government Services | 290 | 30 |
Healthcare | 4,360 | 570 |
Home Services | 800 | 80 |
Hospitality & Food | 7,530 | 1,030 |
Law & Legal | 260 | 90 |
Managerial | 830 | 120 |
Manufacturing | 2,650 | 600 |
Retail & Sales | 17,120 | 3,680 |
Science & Research | 450 | 80 |
Social Care | 2,880 | 270 |
Sports & Leisure | 2,350 | 410 |
Teaching & Education | 4,720 | 760 |
Transport | 400 | 40 |
Travel & Tourism | 310 | 40 |
Figures may not add up to provided totals due to rounding. 1,000 non-grant funded jobs are included in Jobs Advertised but not included under Jobs Started. Total jobs started includes those which have been completed or ended early. |
The Department for Work and Pensions collects data on the uptake of the Kickstart Scheme. We have published information on the number of young people who have started in each region, here: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2021-04-12/179100, but we are unable to break this down below the regional level at present.
The need to deliver and operate the Kickstart scheme at pace has led to a current limited clerical data set which, in turn, makes it harder to accurately present a snapshot of a smaller geographical area, such as a Parliamentary constituency. Information is contained across multiple systems as more than one Jobcentre could cover a single constituency. Conversely, Kickstart placements and vacancies are not allocated to one JCP, so we have many vacancies which may be connected to a company based or headquartered in one area, but the vacancies can be filled from a wider geographical area.
As such, it is not currently possible to provide the data below the regional level. We are, however, continuing to develop our management information tools and data collection system which may help in sharing more localised information at a local authority level in due course.
The Government is monitoring and evaluating the Kickstart Scheme throughout its implementation, and will continue to evaluate the longer term outcomes and impact for Kickstart participants.
Our focus is on delivering Kickstart jobs for young people as soon as we can. Eligible young people will be able to start new Kickstart jobs until December 2021, meaning the final cohort of six-month jobs will end in Summer 2022. There are currently no plans to extend the Kickstart Scheme.
As of the 8th of April, over 11,800 young people had started jobs created by the Department of Work and Pensions’ Kickstart Scheme.
We are unable to provide a breakdown of the approved jobs by region as at the approval stage a company provides their registered address which will often not reflect the location of associated jobs.
The table below shows the number of starts broken down by region. The data in the table has been rounded. Although care is taken when processing and analysing Kickstart applications, referrals and starts, the data collected might be subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system which has been developed quickly.
The management information presented here has not been subjected to the usual standard of quality assurance associated with official statistics, but is provided in the interests of transparency.
Region | Starts |
East Midlands | 660 |
East of England | 780 |
London | 2600 |
North East | 490 |
North West | 1700 |
Scotland | 1100 |
South East | 1200 |
South West | 780 |
Wales | 540 |
West Midlands | 1200 |
Yorkshire and The Humber | 890 |
As of 8th April 2021 there have been 18,900 applications received from gateway organisations and employers, of which 5,300 have been approved. These approved applications represent over 180,000 jobs. Over 11,800 young people have started in their Kickstart job.
Although care is taken when processing and analysing Kickstart applications, referrals and starts, the data collected might be subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system which has been developed quickly. The management information presented here has not been subjected to the usual standard of quality assurance associated with official statistics.
I refer the honourable member to the answer given for PQ 147859.
We are not able to publish a breakdown of this data by nation or region at this time.
I refer the honourable member to the answer given for PQ 147859.
We are not able to publish a breakdown of this data by nation or region at this time.
The delivery of the Restart programme is dependent on an ongoing commercial exercise, on a robust approval process and on intensive readiness preparations. Should these prove successful, referrals to Restart should peak in winter 2021/22 and provider employment should track referral levels.
The delivery of the Restart programme is dependent on an ongoing commercial exercise, on a robust approval process and on intensive readiness preparations. Should these prove successful, referrals to Restart should peak in winter 2021/22 and provider employment should track referral levels.
From the launch of the Department for Work and Pensions’ Kickstart Scheme until 04/02/21, there have been:
a. Over 120,000 jobs approved;
b. Over 2,000 jobs started;
c. Over 8,000 applications made. An employer or organisation can make multiple applications to the scheme.
As of 04/02/2021 there were over 120,000 approved jobs on the Department for Work and Pensions’ Kickstart Scheme.
Data regarding the uptake of the Kickstart Scheme is collected by the DWP. Local and Combined Authorities are welcome to apply for funding through the scheme and some already have.
The table below shows the number of gateway organisations approved as part of the Department for Work and Pensions’ Kickstart scheme, broken down by region as of 11/01/2021. We are currently unable to break this data down by Local Authority, this data reflects the location of an organisation’s registered address and not necessarily the location where the gateway will be supporting Kickstart job placements.
Region | Number of unique Gateways Approved |
London | 143 |
North West | 95 |
South East | 78 |
West Midlands | 54 |
Scotland | 51 |
East of England | 45 |
East Midlands | 43 |
Yorkshire and The Humber | 42 |
Wales | 31 |
South West | 26 |
North East | 26 |
As of 22/01/2021, there have been over 110,000 new job placements approved for funding by the Department for Work and Pensions’ Kickstart scheme. We are actively seeking more Kickstart job placements that can start before December 2021 and would welcome further applications from employers.
As of 19/01/2021, there have been (a) over 110,000 job placements created, (b) 1,916 young people starting job placements and (c) 6,530 applications to, the Department for Work and Pensions’ Kickstart Scheme.
The Department published its latest benefit expenditure and caseload tables, including Universal Credit caseload over the next 5 financial years, which is available here [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2020]. This was published in December.
Estimates by age-group are not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
We are pleased to see the significant interest in the Kickstart Scheme from local authorities and recognise the excellent position they are in to support local opportunities.
We regularly meet with ministerial colleagues and our officials have engaged with local authorities, local enterprise partnerships and the mayoral combined authorities throughout the Kickstart Scheme development process.
The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The chancellor announced at Spending Review £2.9bn for three years of referrals to Restart.
Restart will provide intensive, tailored employment support to help over 1 million people back towards sustained employment.
The commercial process will start in December, contracts will be awarded in Spring 2021, with go live Summer 2021. Further detail on the scheme will be announced in due course.
The chancellor announced at Spending Review £2.9bn for three years of referrals to Restart.
Restart will provide intensive, tailored employment support to help over 1 million people back towards sustained employment.
The commercial process will start in December, contracts will be awarded in Spring 2021, with go live Summer 2021. Further detail on the scheme will be announced in due course.
The chancellor announced at Spending Review £2.9bn for three years of referrals to Restart.
Restart will provide intensive, tailored employment support to help over 1 million people back towards sustained employment.
The commercial process will start in December, contracts will be awarded in Spring 2021, with go live Summer 2021. Further detail on the scheme will be announced in due course.
As of 26/11 there have been 5040 applications for funding through the DWP’s Kickstart Scheme. So far, applications from Gateways and employers covering 23’934 vacancies have been approved.
The Kickstart scheme is a £2bn programme to create thousands of 6-month job placements for young people aged 16-24, to improve their long term employability. Kickstart placements commenced in November 2020.
The information requested is not yet available.
Universal Credit takes into account income in the assessment period (AP) it is received. Payments from the Self-employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) is treated as self-employed earnings in UC and we will take them into account when they are received. We will not therefore need to readjust previous months’ awards.
The Universal Credit (Miscellaneous Amendments, Saving and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2018 introduced a package of positive measures announced in the Autumn Budget on 22 November 2017 and the SSWP’s oral statement the following day. It also introduced additional measures that are very technical by nature, which had been highlighted as part of the learning process of Universal Credit and ensured the legislation reflected the intended policy.
We cannot see any merit in suspending these regulations. For example, we have no plans to re-introduce waiting days to Universal Credit during the Covid period, as this would reduce financial support for claimants and delay the initial payment, nor do we have any plans to suspend the Transition to UC Housing Payment (the two-week run on of Housing Benefit), as this would remove vital financial support for people moving to UC.
We treat the Self Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) payments as self-employed earnings and take them into account in the month in which it is received.
The Department has not made an assessment of the income effect of the SEISS on people who are also claiming universal credit.
The Joint Biosecurity Centre has recruited a range of staff from across the Civil Service and academic institutions. As the number of psychologists and behavioural scientists working within the Joint Biosecurity Centre is currently falls below 10, due to the small number, we are unable to provide the exact number of staff, when they were recruited and from which Departments or academic institutions. This is due to the likelihood of individuals being easily identifiable.
The Joint Biosecurity Centre will shortly be publishing a paper providing further analysis in relation to non-pharmaceutical interventions in local areas. This will add to materials that have already been placed in the public domain, including NHS Test and Trace statistics, surveys from the Office for National Statistics and analytical papers on local measures and non-pharmaceutical interventions presented to the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies.
The national COVID-19 surveillance report published on 2 October included graphs of weekly COVID-19 case rate per 100,000 population by Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) quintile and age group (10-39 year olds). The weekly COVID-19 case rate per 100,000 population by IMD quintile for week 39 (between 21 and 27 September 2020) is shown in the following table.
There is no longer a COVID-19 surveillance report but IMD quantiles will be included in the slide set accompanying the new combined flu and COVID-19 report, which published weekly.
COVID-19 case rate per 100,000 by IMD quintile in 10 to 39 year olds, in England
| IMD Q1 | IMD Q2 | IMD Q3 | IMD Q4 | IMD Q5 |
10 to 16 years | 10.09 | 5.84 | 4.65 | 3.90 | 3.40 |
17 to 19 years | 18.84 | 24.23 | 24.38 | 23.37 | 25.83 |
20 to 29 years | 17.43 | 12.66 | 11.93 | 12.01 | 13.13 |
30 to 39 years | 15.51 | 9.44 | 7.85 | 7.06 | 5.86 |
Source: The data is based on the latest surveillance report, which can be found at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-covid-19-surveillance-reports
Public Health England works closely with the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) to look at different modes of transmission of COVID-19.
There are a range of approaches to understanding and assessing transmission including outbreak investigations, case control studies, surveillance studies, intervention studies, laboratory studies and modelling, which all have strengths and biases. Different approaches need to be applied and analysed together to identify factors that influence transmission. The majority of data shows correlations and associations, but rarely proves causation and no single data source provides complete evidence for how and where transmission takes place.
All upper tier local authorities have access to record level (including sex, age, occupation and postcode) test and case data.
We also publish public dashboards at a national, regional and local authority level and the Middle Layer Super Output Area (MSOA) map, which allows individuals to type in a postcode to find their MSOA and see how many cases there are in small areas of around 7,000 people
Data on the 7 day average for the number of people with COVID-19 identified through an NHS lab (Pillar 1) or from commercial swab testing (Pillar 2) back to March 2020 is available as part of the NHS Digital Progression Dashboard to upper tier local authority level and is available at the following link:
The UK remains at the forefront of refugee responses around the world. In March, the Foreign Secretary announced ‘at least £205 million’ to the Syria Crisis, bringing our total support to over £3.7 billion since 2012.
We continue to be one of the lead donors to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), supporting its efforts to provide assistance to vulnerable refugees in some of the most challenging environments around the world.
The UK is also one of the largest bilateral donors to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment, supporting access to vaccines in up to 92 low and middle-income countries, aiming to supply 1.3 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines before the end of 2021.
Climate change is one of the most urgent and pressing challenges facing the world today. No country can solve this problem alone and we are working with all partners to raise global ambition in this area. We will continue to intensify our engagement with China, the US and the EU in the run up to 2020 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), which as you know the British government bid and secured responsibility to host in Glasgow in November this year, in partnership with Italy. COP26 will be the major international moment for climate change in 2020, and there is no greater priority this year for the FCO. Our diplomatic network network will have a key role to play in driving up ambition and action.
The government understands how the rising cost of living is making life harder for people. These are global challenges however, as set out in the Spring Statement, the government is providing support worth over £22 billion in 2022-23 to help families with these pressures.
For example, a typical family with 2 children where one adult is on the average employee salary and the other works 16 hours at the NLW will be around than £3,000 a year better off as a result of recent government action, notably the NICs primary threshold change, UC taper rate and work allowance changes, and increase in the National Living Wage, even taking account the introduction of the Health and Social Care Levy.
HMRC and the ONS jointly publish statistics on earnings and employment from Pay As You Earn Real Time Information. The next release will be on Thursday 17th August and will be available on the ONS website: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/bulletins/earningsandemploymentfrompayasyouearnrealtimeinformationuk/previousReleases
Breakdowns by NUTS1, NUTS2, and age are already available individually in the statistics, along with a breakdown by industry. The range of these statistics have been expanded since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and NUTS3 was published additionally for the first time in July. Further additional breakdowns will be released over the next few months and will be announced through the ONS release calendar.
HM Revenue and Customs will publish additional information on the number of employments on furlough in due course in a future release of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) statistics.
Previously published statistics on the CJRS include the cumulative number of employments put on furlough at any time since the start of the scheme. Figures by local authority are in table 1a of the 1 July release.
HMRC keeps the contents of the statistics under review and have developed them informed by user feedback.
HM Revenue and Customs publish statistics on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) regularly. The latest statistics were published on 1 July 2021 and can be found on GOV.UK.
The number of employments on furlough at 31 May 2021 broken down by the requested categories are available in the spreadsheet accompanying the release: a) country and region by gender (table 11); b) local authority and gender (table 12); and, c) age and gender (table 14).
HMRC and the ONS jointly publish statistics on earnings and employment from Pay As You Earn Real Time Information. The next release will be on Thursday 15 July and will be available on the ONS website: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/bulletins/earningsandemploymentfrompayasyouearnrealtimeinformationuk/previousReleases.
Breakdowns by NUTS1, NUTS2 and age are already available individually in the statistics, along with a breakdown by industry. The range of these statistics has been expanded since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with NUTS3 being published for the first time in July. Further additional breakdowns will be released over the next few months and will be announced through the ONS release calendar.
The pandemic is expected to leave lasting ‘scars’ on the UK economy's supply capacity, reducing the overall level of output in the long term. The OBR currently assumes there will be a 3% scarring impact on the UK economy from Covid-19, of which 1% comes from labour market supply impacts. This analysis is based on the impact of the pandemic on the labour market overall. More recent forecasts from the Bank of England and the International Monetary Fund have revised down their view of scarring in light of recent data. Scarring in the labour market is likely to occur because it can take a long time for some unemployed workers to retrain or relocate appropriately.
That is why the Government has put in place a comprehensive package of support through our Plan for Jobs to help jobs and livelihoods and support the economy. We are continuing to protect jobs in every nation and region of the UK, including for younger workers, through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). Provisional HMRC statistics indicate that as at 31 May 2021, 322,400 jobs were furloughed where the employee was aged 24 or under.
As well as protecting jobs, we are also supporting young people to find new employment opportunities. This includes the £2bn Kickstart Scheme, which will create hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for young people, and our new Youth Offer, which provides a guaranteed foundation of support to all 18-24 year olds on Universal Credit in the Intensive Work Search group.
HM Revenue & Customs publish statistics on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme regularly. The latest statistics were published on 1 July 2021 and can be found on GOV.UK.
Figures from these statistics show that on 31 May 2021, 14% of jobs on furlough (or 322,400) were held by an employee aged under 25. These are provisional figures.
HMRC have not made an estimate of the number of people aged under 25 who are at risk of unemployment once that scheme ends.
Recognising the impact the pandemic has had on young people, the Government has put in place a comprehensive package of support to help young people find work. This includes the £2bn Kickstart Scheme, which will create hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for young people, and the new Youth Offer, which provides a guaranteed foundation of support to all 18-24 year olds on Universal Credit in the Intensive Work Search group.
The Government has also made significant investment in skills and training support to help young people build the skills they need to find work. This includes the expansion of traineeships for 16-24 year olds, a bespoke offer for school leavers to take high value Level 2 and 3 courses, and increased apprenticeship incentives for employers, with £3,000 for each new apprentice hired between 1 April 2021 and 30 September 2021.
The public sector pay pause announced at the Spending Review 2020 covers most of the major public sector workforces; Police, Prison officers, School-teachers, Armed forces, National Crime Agency, Senior Civil Service, Civil Service and Judiciary.
Given the unique impact of Covid-19 on the health service, and despite the challenging economic context, the government will continue to provide for pay rises for over 1 million NHS workers. The government will also prioritise the lowest paid, with 2.1 million public sector workers earning less than £24,000 receiving a minimum £250 increase.
In order to ensure fairness and consistency of approach, HM Treasury
expects other public sector employers not covered by the Pay Review Body process or the Civil Service Pay Remit Guidance, including public corporations and other employers where there is less central oversight of annual pay awards, to respect and comply with the pay pause. Departments and employers should consult the Office for National Statistics classification guidance to confirm whether they are classified as within the public sector.
Pay for Local Government workers and Devolved Administrations is set independently of Central Government and therefore the pause will not directly apply.
The Government recognises the importance of the UK’s and EU’s thriving cultural industries. This is why, during our recent negotiations with the EU, we pushed for ambitious arrangements for performers and artists to be able to travel without needing work-permits.
Our proposals were developed in consultation with the UK’s creative industries and would have allowed musicians and performers to travel and perform more easily in the EU and vice versa, however, these proposals were rejected by the EU.
Throughout the pandemic, economic analysis has been a key part of the advice that ministers use to inform decisions taken in this fast-moving health environment.
The Treasury continues to provide economic analysis to ministers on an ongoing basis as part of policy making and design. The Treasury does not produce formal forecasts for the UK economy. Economic and fiscal forecasting is the responsibility of the independent OBR. They will publish their next forecast on 25 November.
Economic analysis undertaken by the Treasury draws on a wide range of sources, including analysis from external sources such as the OBR, Bank of England and other independent bodies.
Government officials work together across departments to understand both the health and economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Senior officials from other government departments, including the Treasury, attend SAGE as observers to ensure a full understanding of the scientific advice the committee give to government.
The OBR prepares an economic and fiscal forecast twice in each financial year.
On 11 September, the Chancellor laid a written ministerial statement in the House of Commons stating that he had ‘asked the OBR to prepare an economic and fiscal forecast to be published in mid to late November’, and the specific date (25 November) was confirmed on 28 October.
The OBR publish a log of substantive contact between the OBR and Treasury Ministers, Special Advisers and their private office staff alongside each forecast.
Just over 5 million individuals were assessed for potential eligibility to the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme; about 1.6 million of these were assessed to be ineligible.
To support the emergency response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government has temporarily suspended pension abatement rules for certain public service workforces. This temporary change is only being applied where retired public service workers are essential as part of the Government’s response to Covid-19. It includes the temporary suspension of abatement rules in the NHS pension scheme, supporting recently retired NHS staff to return to tackle the outbreak.
HMRC recognise the important role membership organisations play in helping the public, and engaged closely with them while developing and launching the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). While agents, employers and other third parties cannot apply on behalf of eligible individuals, HMRC discussed the process with representative organisations through regular meetings and signposted agents to live webinars and online videos available to help the public understand how to apply for SEISS.
Everyone applying for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) undergoes the same process for confirming their identity.
People who have engaged with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) online in the past using an existing Government Gateway credential – for example, in order to file their Self-Assessment tax return – can reuse their existing online Government Gateway credentials to claim the grant. Most people who are eligible to claim have credentials already.
Those dealing with HMRC online for the first time will be required to verify their identity. HMRC worked quickly with the Driving and Vehicle Licencing Agency to enable people to use a GB driving licence to verify their identity for SEISS. It has not been possible to add non-UK passports or non-GB driving licences to the Government Gateway authentication service in the same timeline. HMRC are currently exploring whether it is possible to connect to Northern Ireland Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) and Irish Passport Service data, as part of their continuing improvement of the Government Gateway.
Those who do not have a UK passport or GB driving licence can use the multiple-choice questions option to verify their identity. This uses a financial checking service that does not require a passport or driving licence. Anyone who is unable to verify their identity in this way can make their claim by telephone.
In January 2019, the Government announced a pause to the cost control element of the valuations of public service pension schemes, due to the uncertainty about benefit entitlements arising from the Court of Appeal’s judgment in McCloud in December 2018.
The Government has committed to addressing the discrimination identified in McCloud in all public service pension schemes, while ensuring all members can keep their accrued benefits. Schemes are currently discussing high-level proposals to achieve this with employer and member representatives, to inform a full public consultation. In addition, Employment Tribunals are considering the remedy for claimants in the various cases. While these processes are underway, the cost control mechanism remains paused as the value of pension schemes to members cannot be assessed with certainty.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation
This Government is protecting and enhancing the connections between Northern Ireland and Merseyside through the Union Connectivity Review. We have accepted the Review’s primary recommendation, for the establishment of a strategic UK-wide transport network which will improve access to our ferry ports.