Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Chris Williamson and Kevin Barron

Tuesday 1st November 2011 Commons Chamber

[Chris Williamson (Derby North) (Lab)]

2. What assessment he has made of the effects of the 2011 Budget on long-term unemployment.

[Mr Kevin Barron (Rother Valley) (Lab)]

12. What assessment he has made of the effects on unemployment of the outcome of the comprehensive spending review.

[The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Danny Alexander)]

The independent Office for Budget Responsibility published its forecast for unemployment in March. Unemployment is a serious problem for the UK, with about 1 million people continuously on out-of-work benefits for more than a decade. This Government have introduced a number of reforms to the welfare system, including the Work programme—the biggest single payment-by-results employment programme this country has ever seen, which is expected to help 2.4 million claimants over the next seven years.