Work and Pensions

David Rutley Excerpts

Wednesday 9th February 2022 Ministerial Corrections

The following is an extract from the Opposition day debate on 24 January 2022.

[David Rutley]

The latest job figures tell a very positive story. There is now a record number of people in payroll employment in the UK, with 23,000 people added to payrolls in Scotland in December alone. With around 1.25 million vacancies across the UK, up 33,000, or 2.7% in a month, and by 467,000, or 58.9% since the start of the pandemic, there are many further opportunities for people to move into and, importantly, progress in work and increase their earnings.

[Official Report, 24 January 2022, Vol. 707, c. 790.]

Letter of correction from the Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the hon. Member for Macclesfield (David Rutley).

An error has been identified in my speech.

The correct information should have been:

[David Rutley]

With around 1.25 million vacancies across the UK, up 33,000, or 2.7% in a month, and by 462,000, or 58.9% since the start of the pandemic, there are many further opportunities for people to move into and, importantly, progress in work and increase their earnings.

Cost of Living

The following are extracts from the Westminster Hall debate on 25 January 2022.

[David Rutley]

We are also investing in our young people through the kickstart scheme: 112,000 young people have started a life-changing six-month work placement, and 10,000 of those starts were in Scotland.

[Official Report, Westminster Hall, 25 January 2022; Vol. 707, c. 279WH.]

Letter of correction from the Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the hon. Member for Macclesfield (David Rutley).

An error has been identified in my speech.

The correct information should have been:

[David Rutley]

We are also investing in our young people through the kickstart scheme: 122,000 young people have started a life-changing six-month work placement, and 10,000 of those starts were in Scotland.

[David Rutley]

Secondly, winter fuel payments will be made to over 11 million pensioners this winter, ensuring that older people have the security and dignity they deserve. Households with someone of state pension age will receive £200, and households with someone over 80 will receive £300. Thirdly, cold weather payments help vulnerable people in receipt of certain income-related benefits to meet the additional costs of heating during periods of unseasonably severe cold weather. That includes older people receiving pension credit and those receiving an income-based benefit with a disability component or where the household includes a child under five. In 2020-21, just over 4 million payments were made, at a cost of just over £100 million.

[Official Report, Westminster Hall, 25 January 2022; Vol. 707, c. 281WH.]

Letter of correction from the Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the hon. Member for Macclesfield (David Rutley).

An error has been identified in my speech.

The correct information should have been:

[David Rutley]

In 2020-21, just over 4 million payments were made, at a cost of around £98.9million.