Poverty and Social Exclusion Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Work and Pensions
Baroness Jenkin of Kennington
Main Page: Baroness Jenkin of Kennington (Conservative - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Baroness Jenkin of Kennington's debates with the Department for Work and Pensions
(9 years, 10 months ago)
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Baroness Hollis of Heigham (Lab)
My Lords, we have a bedroom tax because the Liberal Democrats voted for it—
Baroness Jenkin of Kennington (Con)
Does my noble friend agree that employment alleviates poverty, and does he welcome yesterday’s unemployment figures?
Lord Freud
It is always a great pleasure to reflect on the fact that we now have the highest rate of employment that this country has ever seen. One of the most interesting figures that I have looked at lately is that which shows what has happened to workless households in the social housing sector. That figure has always been high. It was up at 48.7% when we came into government and never got below 46%-odd at the height of the boom. However, it is now right down at 42.7%. That reflects a major cultural change as we get this country back to work.