Thursday 19th November 2015

(8 years, 5 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Altmann Portrait Baroness Altmann
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My Lords, those are indeed important issues but over the year, and since 2010, the majority of employment growth has come from full-time work—up by more than 1.5 million posts since 2010.

Lord Wrigglesworth Portrait Lord Wrigglesworth (LD)
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My Lords, encouraging though those national figures are—

Baroness Stowell of Beeston Portrait The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con)
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My Lords, it is the turn of the Lib Dems.

Lord Wrigglesworth Portrait Lord Wrigglesworth
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My Lords, encouraging though those national figures are, does the noble Baroness accept that they mask massive disparities between different regions of this country, in particular between the north and south? What are the Government doing about that?

Baroness Altmann Portrait Baroness Altmann
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My Lords, there have indeed been concerns about disparities but they are reducing significantly. The plans for the northern powerhouse will make a difference. The latest figures from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and KPMG show that the Midlands and the north led a broad rise in demand for permanent staff, with salaries rising as well.