Oral Answers to Questions

John Cooper Excerpts

Monday 9th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Torsten Bell]

I recognise the powerful arguments that the hon. Member and Pauline made in our meeting. Our position today reflects the balance between recognising service injuries and being consistent across the welfare system. Pension credit is a means-tested benefit, the goal of which is to top up pensioners’ income to a guaranteed minimum level, so in order to ensure consistency, most forms of income—including those he refers to—are taken into account. However, as I said, there is a partial disregard in order to recognise veterans’ service, and the value of lump-sum payments received in respect of personal injury are fully disregarded.

[John Cooper (Dumfries and Galloway) (Con)]

3. What assessment he has made of trends in the level of unemployment.

[Jerome Mayhew (Broadland and Fakenham) (Con)]

7. What assessment he has made of trends in the level of unemployment.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Pat McFadden)]

Headline unemployment is below its average rate under the previous Government, and inactivity is falling as more people actively seek work. Some 381,000 more people have moved into work over the past year. However, there is a long-term challenge in youth unemployment, which we are responding to through the youth guarantee, more youth apprenticeship starts and other measures.

[John Cooper]

Youth unemployment is, in fact, spiking at nearly 5.3%, which is heartbreaking, particularly for young people who cannot get that all-important first job. The Government like to pretend that they are a cork in a storm-tossed sea and unable to do anything about this, but they could reconsider employer national insurance contributions and the disastrous Employment Rights Act 2025, which is driving up youth unemployment.

[Pat McFadden]

The hon. Member will be aware of the national insurance tax break under which no employer national insurance contributions are payable for workers under 21, unless they earn more than £50,000, which not too many workers under the age of 21 do.