Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Eddie Hughes and Lord Sharma

Monday 1st July 2019 Commons Chamber

[Eddie Hughes (Walsall North) (Con)]

T8. Will the Minister provide an update on the Department’s work to help people who are out of employment back into work, particularly in the Black Country and, more specifically, in my constituency of Walsall North?

[Alok Sharma]

As my hon. Friend knows, more people are in work now than ever before. Indeed, the employment rate is higher in every region of the country than in 2010, including in the Black Country. Specifically, he may already be aware that Willenhall jobcentre is working closely with major employers on employment opportunities and, of course, that our mentoring circles programme is being rolled out for 18 to 24-year-olds to help them increase their employability skills.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Eddie Hughes and Lord Sharma

Monday 7th January 2019 Commons Chamber

[Alok Sharma]

I would be happy to meet the hon. Gentleman to discuss the matter.

[Eddie Hughes (Walsall North) (Con)]

Can the Minister reassure my constituents who have heard claims that some housing associations are refusing to accept tenants in receipt of universal credit by giving an assurance that the Government will make sure this is never the case?

[Alok Sharma]

My hon. Friend has huge experience of the housing sector of course, and I thank him for the work he does in his constituency; I have been to visit him. The landlord portal has now been rolled out across almost 70% of the social housing sector, but I will be happy to discuss with him any specific cases he wants to raise.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Eddie Hughes and Lord Sharma

Monday 15th October 2018 Commons Chamber

[The Minister for Employment (Alok Sharma)]

The Secretary of State has made it absolutely clear that we will be protecting people who currently receive the severe disability premium. [Interruption.] Will the hon. Lady just listen? A million disabled households who are now receiving legacy benefits will gain, on average, £110 a month on universal credit. Those are the facts, and the hon. Lady should try to accept them.

[Eddie Hughes (Walsall North) (Con)]

T2. The roll-out of universal credit will come to Willenhall in my constituency on Wednesday. Will the Minister join me in endorsing the work of Walsall Housing Group and its Rent First programme, which is helping tenants to prepare for that transition?

Grenfell Rehousing

Debate between Eddie Hughes and Lord Sharma

Wednesday 5th July 2017 Commons Chamber

[Alok Sharma]

We do not want any family to be placed in accommodation that is unsuitable. I invite the hon. Lady to join me and the shadow Minister—let us go and visit some of these properties and make sure that she is happy with the quality of what is on offer.

[Eddie Hughes (Walsall North) (Con)]

In his statement, the Minister suggested that some of those who lived in Grenfell Tower had been there for five years, despite having been assured that it was temporary accommodation. Can he assure us that those now being placed in temporary accommodation will not subsequently have it described as permanent?

[Alok Sharma]

I can absolutely offer that assurance.