Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Chris Green and Priti Patel

Wednesday 29th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Chris Green (Bolton West) (Con)]

Some people have concerns about the idea of linking trade with aid, but does my right hon. Friend agree that the rule of law, which goes with trade, fosters the wider development of healthy legal practice?

[Priti Patel]

As I said earlier, the UK leads on prosperity and economic development. My hon. Friend is right to highlight the fact that we do not tie in aid and trade, but there is a role for governance and building the prosperity agenda. That is effectively what we are doing through DFID’s economic development strategy.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Chris Green and Priti Patel

Monday 14th March 2016 Commons Chamber

[Priti Patel]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Work and employment turn around the lives of families and communities. In his constituency and region, we have seen record levels of employment. That is down to the Government’s policies and, as I said earlier, to the support we have had from employers, who are, ultimately, the job creators in our economy.

[Chris Green (Bolton West) (Con)]

19. What progress his Department has made on reducing the number of workless households.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Chris Green and Priti Patel

Monday 1st February 2016 Commons Chamber

[Priti Patel]

Let me remind the hon. Lady of my earlier comments, when I said that no one currently on ESA will lose out as a result of the changes. Importantly, too, our Government are focused on supporting individuals who have health conditions and are on ESA, which is why those in need would automatically go to the support group.

[Chris Green (Bolton West) (Con)]

A jobcentre’s role is especially important for those who do not have the necessary support at home. Does my right hon. Friend agree that in addition to the youth obligation, there should be an obligation on jobcentres to offer more specialist support?

[Priti Patel]

My hon. Friend raises an important point: jobcentres have a significant role to play in providing support to young people. That is why we have just started a pilot that takes Jobcentre Plus, with employers, into school to act as a gateway to provide new employment, work experience and work placement opportunities. He has also made the point that the new youth obligation focuses on ensuring that young people are either earning or learning, and do not end up trapped in the benefits system, which is exactly what happened under the previous Labour Government.