Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Karl Turner and Lord Robathan

Wednesday 27th November 2013 Commons Chamber

[Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab)]

6. What steps she is taking to reduce worklessness in Northern Ireland.

[The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Mr Andrew Robathan)]

I am answering these questions together as they use exactly the same wording, which is a rather strange coincidence.

[Karl Turner]

Northern Ireland has a higher population of young people than any other region in the UK. Nearly one in four of them is without a job. Does the Secretary of State have a plan to get them back to work?

[Mr Robathan]

Specific measures on this issue are for the Northern Ireland Executive. However, the economic pact we concluded with them in June will help to rebalance the economy and improve employment prospects. As the hon. Gentleman will know, the number of those who are unemployed in Northern Ireland has fallen dramatically over the past year, and the number of employee jobs has increased by more than 5,000.