Global Migration Challenge

Debate between Priti Patel and Andrew Bridgen

Tuesday 19th April 2022 Commons Chamber

[Priti Patel]

I refer to the comments I made earlier on the legal and legislative basis, which was all put in place under the previous Labour Government. Indeed, this scheme and proposal were also looked at under the previous Labour Government, and had it been operational back then we might not be having this debate today as more people would be claiming asylum in safe countries in the EU and the people-smuggling gangs would have been broken up.

[Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con)]

I welcome my right hon. Friend’s statement and believe that the policy will work. Will my right hon. Friend explain what the successful implementation of her policy will look like on the ground, and in particular what impact she believes it will have on the number of vulnerable people willing to put their lives in the hands of ruthless people traffickers to gain illegal entry to our country?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Priti Patel and Andrew Bridgen

Wednesday 16th November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con)]

6. What steps her Department is taking to promote economic development in Africa.

[The Secretary of State for International Development (Priti Patel)]

Last month in Kenya, I saw the life-saving impact of UK aid on the ground when it comes to combating drought, hunger and disease. I also saw how innovation can not only result in UK aid reaching more people, but help people to look at the long-term economic opportunities to tackle poverty and bring economic growth.

[Andrew Bridgen]

Does my right hon. Friend agree that working in partnership with Governments, businesses and investors around the world to transform economies and trading relationships, particularly in developing countries, should be a vital part of our UK diplomatic effort and our long-term prosperity strategy, especially as we approach Brexit?

[Priti Patel]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. No country can defeat poverty without economic growth. Jobs, trade and investment are central to that, and the United Kingdom will be at the forefront of championing economic development and helping the poorest in the world to work their way out of poverty.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Priti Patel and Andrew Bridgen

Monday 1st February 2016 Commons Chamber

[Priti Patel]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. It was with great pleasure that I met Carers’ Resource from his constituency. Earlier today I discussed how we can support and work collectively with that organisation to support more women with caring responsibilities to get employment and also to work with employers to do more to support getting people into work—carers in particular. I look forward to working with my hon. Friend and Carers’ Resource to see what more we can do to pilot more initiatives locally.

[Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con)]

15. What progress his Department has made in reducing the number of workless households.

DWP Data

Debate between Priti Patel and Andrew Bridgen

Tuesday 21st July 2015 Commons Chamber

[Priti Patel]

As I have said, the statistics will be published, and the hon. Gentleman can then make his own informed decision.

[Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con)]

As the Minister stated, unemployment benefits have always been conditional. Will she tell the House how often these statistics were published by the Labour party when it was in government?

[Priti Patel]

It is a very short answer—never.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Priti Patel and Andrew Bridgen

Wednesday 15th July 2015 Commons Chamber

[Priti Patel]

The details of the policy will come forward in due course, but it is commendable that across the UK this Government are supporting the creation of 3 million new additional apprenticeships, which just goes to show that we are investing in our young people and supporting them as they get closer to the employment market.

[Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con)]

9. What progress has been made on implementation of the recommendations of the Smith commission.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Priti Patel and Andrew Bridgen

Tuesday 9th December 2014 Commons Chamber

[Priti Patel]

It is fair to say that this Government ensure that people are better off in work, in stark contrast to the failed dependency policies of the Labour party. We are the party in government that has taken action to support people on low incomes by increasing the personal allowance, taking 3.2 million people on low incomes out of tax altogether and increasing the national minimum wage. We should all remember which party was responsible for the cost of living crisis; it was Labour’s great recession. We are the Government who have frozen fuel duty and council tax and it is our policies that are now leading to growth in the economy.

[Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con)]

The latest figures show that the number of individuals classed as being in in-work poverty has fallen by 300,000 since this Government came to office, at the same time as an extra 2 million people are in work. What Government measures does my hon. Friend think have contributed to this rise in people’s income?

[Priti Patel]

I thank my hon. Friend for his question. It is fair to say that this Government are not returning to the failed policies of the past as seen under the Labour party. The key measure explaining why we have had so much growth in our economy is our focus on our long-term economic plan, which is securing a better future for our economy, for the country and, of course, for hard-working taxpayers.