Oral Answers to Questions

Ian C. Lucas Excerpts

Wednesday 29th October 2014 Commons Chamber

The Prime Minister was asked—

[Ian Lucas (Wrexham) (Lab)]

Q1. If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 29 October.

[The Prime Minister (Mr David Cameron)]

This morning, I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others and in addition to my duties in this House I shall have further such meetings later today.

[Ian Lucas]

As I walked to Parliament this morning past the increasing numbers of people who are sleeping on Victoria street pavement, I reflected that this Government are the first since the 1920s to have presided over a real-terms fall in average wages for their people. Is this record of failure really the best this Prime Minister can offer to the United Kingdom?

[The Prime Minister]

What we have actually seen under this Government is a record fall in the number of unemployed people over the last year. Also, the hon. Gentleman might want to make reference to the fact that this morning, the Office for National Statistics has produced the figures to show that the number of workless households going down by 671,000 in our country. The number of children growing up in a home where nobody works is down by 387,000. What that means is all those children growing up seeing one of their parents going out to work, putting food on the table, providing for that family, proving a role model for their children. That is a record to be proud of.