Oral Answers to Questions

James Morris Excerpts

Monday 13th May 2024 Commons Chamber

[Jo Churchill]

We will always take a reasonable view and make sure that unavoidable circumstances such as those the hon. Gentleman speaks of will be taken into account when talking to customers.

[James Morris (Halesowen and Rowley Regis) (Con)]

5. What plans he has to increase levels of employment.

[The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mel Stride)]

We have a near record level of employment and very low levels of unemployment, but we are not stopping there. The Chancellor announced our back to work plan in the previous statement.

[James Morris (Halesowen and Rowley Regis) (Con)]

The latest Office for National Statistics figures show that the number of claimants in my constituency fell over the past year. That is good news, but more needs to be done. Does the Secretary of State agree that we always need to make work pay, that we need to create incentives for people to get back into work and that local action such as my annual jobs fair, which I held recently in partnership with the DWP, Halesowen College and the Halesowen business improvement district, can make a practical difference on the ground by getting opportunities to people?

[Mel Stride]

I congratulate my hon. Friend on the reduction in the number of claimants in his constituency, which I know is at least in part due to the excellent jobs fairs he assists in organising. He is right that work should pay; that is why I am very proud that mine is the party that brought in universal credit, making sure that that is exactly the case.