Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Iain Duncan Smith and Jim McGovern

Monday 13th January 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Duncan Smith]

That is exactly right. The reality that my hon. Friend has spotted is that the Opposition have voted against every single one of our welfare reforms. Not only would the welfare bill have been £45 billion higher under them, but more people would be out of work and they would have failed the British people.

[Jim McGovern (Dundee West) (Lab)]

On the Work programme, can the Minister explain why Dundee is once again the least supported city in Scotland, with only 9.79% of people being helped back into work by the programme? Will she apologise to the people of Dundee and explain why 90% are still not being helped?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Iain Duncan Smith and Jim McGovern

Monday 19th July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Duncan Smith]

Those who take the risk and try to work and take jobs are the people whom we want to support in society. The trouble is that endlessly under the previous Government, the levels of support for those who did not take a risk or a chance were too high for them ever to take those risks. The answer is very simply this: we will value those who try, and make sure that things such as housing benefit and unemployment benefit are set at rates that do not discourage people from taking work.

[Jim McGovern (Dundee West) (Lab)]

7. What assessment his Department has made of the effect on levels of child poverty of ending the future jobs fund; and if he will make a statement.