Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Guy Opperman and Judith Cummins

Monday 4th September 2023 Commons Chamber

[Judith Cummins (Bradford South) (Lab)]

10. What assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of unemployment over the last 12 months.

[The Minister for Employment (Guy Opperman)]

I welcome our three new colleagues.

The independent Office for National Statistics estimates that, notwithstanding a recent uptick, the unemployment rate is now almost half the rate we inherited in 2010 and is back to pre-pandemic levels.

[Guy Opperman]

With great respect, I disagree. Employment is at record levels. Vacancies have been down for the past 10 quarters. Payroll employment is at a record high. Pay is up and inflation is down. We are doing an awful lot better than that lot would.

[Judith Cummins]

We have seen a summer of job cuts in my Bradford South constituency, with both Morrisons and Solenis announcing major redundancies. Does the Minister agree that this shows that the Government’s plan to grow the economy is failing?

[Guy Opperman]

I should make the point that payroll employment is at a record high. There are 4 million more people in work than in 2010, and the unemployment rate is down to 4.2% across the UK—that is a near record low. Our jobcentres are clearly doing a fantastic job, and I fully support all the work that is going on in Bradford to try to address these issues.