Oral Answers to Questions

Mark Pawsey Excerpts

Tuesday 11th March 2014 Commons Chamber

[Danny Alexander]

Long-term youth unemployment was down 25,000 on the quarter. Youth unemployment is down 15% in the hon. Gentleman’s constituency, and he ought to welcome that. The fact is that the bonus tax, which the former Chancellor says would not raise any money, is being spent on, I believe, 10 different measures by Labour, showing how fiscally incredible its plans are.

[Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con)]

Youth unemployment has shown a welcome national fall, but the situation is even better in my constituency, where youth unemployment has more than halved from 7.6% to 3.1%. Does the Chief Secretary agree that that shows that the Government’s long-term economic plan is working for my young constituents?

[Danny Alexander]

I am delighted to hear about the success in reducing youth unemployment in Rugby, which is a consequence of the coalition Government’s decisions to make sure that we have the right climate for businesses to invest, grow and create jobs, which is in stark contrast to what the Opposition did in office.