Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jo Churchill and Stephen Timms

Monday 13th May 2024 Commons Chamber

[Sir Stephen Timms (East Ham) (Lab)]

One helpful change would be to extend access to employment support to economically inactive people in St Austell and Newquay who are not claiming benefits and do not have access to that support. Will the Minister consider that as a step towards increasing the prospects of filling the current job vacancies?

[Jo Churchill]

We have extended the restart scheme for another couple of years, making sure that everybody who walks through the doors of our jobcentres is met by a work coach. What we need to do is ensure that they have the time to look at that bespoke support.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jo Churchill and Stephen Timms

Monday 18th March 2024 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

I call the Chair of the Select Committee.

[Sir Stephen Timms (East Ham) (Lab)]

A large number of people in Banff and Buchan are economically inactive. They are not claiming benefits so they are not eligible for employment support from jobcentres, but the Select Committee recommended last summer that such people should be eligible. Would that not be in their interests and in the interests of employers struggling to fill vacant posts at the moment, and therefore supportive of much-needed economic growth?

[Jo Churchill]

We always take these matters very seriously and keep them under full review.