Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mary Glindon and Grant Shapps

Thursday 24th October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mary Glindon (North Tyneside) (Lab)]

T7. At Highways England, a Government-owned company of which the Secretary of State is the sole shareholder, over 60 executives—mostly men—now enjoy six-figure salaries, while the vast majority of staff have been told to expect their pay increases to remain capped at 1% until 2025. When will the new shareholder be challenging company directors to address these pay disparities?

[Grant Shapps]

The hon. Lady may be surprised to hear that I agree with her. Some of these salaries—in both road and rail—have gone off the scale, and I am already addressing the issue.

Thomas Cook

Debate between Mary Glindon and Grant Shapps

Wednesday 25th September 2019 Commons Chamber

[Grant Shapps]

It absolutely has occurred to us. There are 630 jobcentres and the Rapid Response Service, alongside the National Careers Service. They are already working with local partners in all the different areas to try to ensure, through the national employer partnership teams, that people get back into employment. I have already mentioned some of the other support to do with childcare and the tools needed when people are going for interviews. We absolutely stand behind that. I say to the hon. Gentleman and everyone in this House that, at a time of record employment and record low unemployment, I hope that people find that that support helps them into another job very quickly.

[Mary Glindon (North Tyneside) (Lab)]

Given the importance of the rapid response teams, will the Secretary of State say what extra Government resources they are receiving so that they can fully support these unemployed workers?

[Grant Shapps]

Yes, I will.