Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

Oral Answers to Questions

Crispin Blunt Excerpts
Tuesday 16th June 2015

(9 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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On the subject of Chester, unemployment fell over the course of the last Parliament by 49%, which is something I would have expected the hon. Gentleman to welcome. The reality is that we are investing in apprenticeships; we saw 2.2 million people undertake apprenticeships in the previous Parliament, and we will increase that to 3 million in this Parliament.

Crispin Blunt Portrait Crispin Blunt (Reigate) (Con)
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Following the crash, the remarkable record of the economy was that unemployment did not rocket up more post-2008 and 2009. Now, in my constituency, it is the labour market that is very tight. I ask the Front-Bench team to focus very hard on improving productivity because that is where the improvement in our economy must now come from.

David Gauke Portrait Mr Gauke
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I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. Improving our infrastructure and skills and ensuring that we have a competitive tax system can all help to drive up productivity.