Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Elmore Excerpts

Monday 4th September 2023 Commons Chamber

[Mims Davies]

I know that the right hon. Gentleman is very interested in this subject, as am I. Again, there is help for households, with the local housing allowance rate being set at the 30th percentile in 2020. The Government are projected to spend around £31 billion, or around 1.2% of GDP, on support for renters in 2023-24. It is absolutely right that we support people to be better off. The LHA is not intended to cover all rents in all areas, but I take a close interest in this subject.

[Chris Elmore (Ogmore) (Lab)]

4. What assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of unemployment over the last 12 months.

[Judith Cummins (Bradford South) (Lab)]

10. What assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of unemployment over the last 12 months.

[The Minister for Employment (Guy Opperman)]

I welcome our three new colleagues.

The independent Office for National Statistics estimates that, notwithstanding a recent uptick, the unemployment rate is now almost half the rate we inherited in 2010 and is back to pre-pandemic levels.

[Chris Elmore]

Actually, according to the Government’s own figures, three and a half years after the pandemic began, employment is not back to pre-pandemic levels. Will the Minister set out what the unanticipated rise in unemployment says about the underlying health of our economy? It is not looking good, is it?

[Guy Opperman]

With great respect, I disagree. Employment is at record levels. Vacancies have been down for the past 10 quarters. Payroll employment is at a record high. Pay is up and inflation is down. We are doing an awful lot better than that lot would.