Oral Answers to Questions

Andy Carter Excerpts

Tuesday 15th March 2022 Commons Chamber

[Rishi Sunak]

What we are doing is tackling the cost of energy. Unlike the hon. Lady’s party, we believe in the future of the North sea and we are investing in it. We want to make sure that we promote the jobs that are there. On upcoming support for energy costs, the Scottish Government have plenty of powers on welfare and tax, and if they think that they can make a difference, they should use them.

[Andy Carter (Warrington South) (Con)]

2. What assessment he has made of the progress of the kickstart Scheme.

[Cherilyn Mackrory (Truro and Falmouth) (Con)]

3. What assessment he has made of the progress of the kickstart Scheme.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Mr Simon Clarke)]

Some 130,000 young people across Great Britain have benefited from the kickstart scheme so far, including in my hon. Friends’ constituencies. That is lower than the 250,000 jobs that the scheme could have funded, but the scheme was designed at a time when unemployment was expected to peak at 12%. The reality is that, thanks to the intervention by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor, the economy has recovered better than expected and unemployment peaked at 5.2% in 2020.

[Andy Carter]

I am grateful for that response. Last week, I went to visit Sigma, a great local business in Warrington South, which has employed nine people under kickstart, and that has made a massive difference. Can my right hon. Friend tell me what steps the Government are taking to help businesses retain young people as we approach the end of the six-month kickstart programme?