Oral Answers to Questions Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Wales Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Ann Clwyd Excerpts
Wednesday 13th April 2016

(8 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Guto Bebb Portrait Guto Bebb
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

I agree entirely with my hon. Friend. The tax cuts that have been put in place by this Government since 2010 are to be welcomed. Of particular importance in the Budget was the announcement on small business rates, and I call on the Welsh Government to follow the example of the Westminster Government to ensure that Welsh small businesses have the same advantages through their business rates as do those in England.

Ann Clwyd Portrait Ann Clwyd (Cynon Valley) (Lab)
- Hansard - -

Only 38% of working-age disabled people are in jobs in Wales, compared with 46% in the UK as a whole. Why?

Guto Bebb Portrait Guto Bebb
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

The right hon. Lady asks an important question. There is more work to be done and, again, there is a need to work together on this issue. However, I would highlight the fact that more and more people with disabilities are now in work—152,000 more in the past 12 months and over 300,000 more in the past 24 months. We need to ensure that the successes we are seeing across the country are replicated in Wales.