Oral Answers to Questions

Jason McCartney Excerpts

Monday 19th October 2020 Commons Chamber

[Elliot Colburn (Carshalton and Wallington) (Con)]

What steps she is taking to support people into work throughout the UK.

[Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (Con)]

What steps she is taking to support people into work throughout the UK.

[Mark Fletcher (Bolsover) (Con)]

What steps she is taking to support people into work throughout the UK.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mims Davies]

I can assure my hon. Friend that claimants will always be contacted before the minimum income floor is applied to them. Universal credit claimants who were subject to the minimum income floor prior to the pandemic will be given the opportunity to review their self-employment status and activity, ensuring that their current circumstances are reflected and their business continues to be viable before any reintroduction of the MIF. My hon. Friend will be aware that the regulations to relax the MIF are in place until November, and I will update the House on arrangements beyond that in due course.

[Jason McCartney]

I joined my caseworker on a recent covid-safe visit to Huddersfield jobcentre, which is rolling out a seven-day-a-week operation to support jobseekers. Will the Minister join me in thanking all the team at Huddersfield jobcentre and continue to give them all the support required as they recruit the extra staff they need to support my constituents into work via kickstart and other schemes?

[Mims Davies]

I am more than happy to extend my great thanks to the DWP team in Huddersfield, as well as their new colleagues. They have done sterling work in setting up a new youth hub with Kirklees Council, as well as other activities involving kickstart, using sector-based work academy programmes—SWAPs—and mentoring circles and working with local employers to help more people in Huddersfield back into work.