Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Harrington of Watford Excerpts

Tuesday 11th March 2014 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire) (Con)]

3. What recent estimate he has made of the rate of employment.

[Richard Harrington (Watford) (Con)]

11. What recent estimate he has made of the rate of employment.

[Danny Alexander]

Employment in the UK is increasing and, under this Government, has exceeded 30 million for the first time in our country’s history. Over the last year, the employment rate has risen 0.6 percentage points to 72.1%, higher than that in the US, Italy and France, and the EU28 and the G7 averages. In the last year, employment has grown faster in the UK than it has in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the EU28 and the G7.

[Danny Alexander]

My hon. Friend is right and he draws attention to one Member who told the CBI annual conference that our plan would lead to the disappearance of 1 million jobs—[Hon. Members: “Who was it?”] It was the Leader of the Opposition. In fact, employment has increased by 1.3 million, with more than 1.6 million jobs created in the private sector—proof, if anyone should need it, that our economic plan is working for the United Kingdom.

[Richard Harrington]

I know that the House will be delighted to hear that long-term unemployment in my constituency of Watford is down by 22%. Youth unemployment is down by 33% in the last 12 months alone, and the number of JSA claimants is also down by 27%. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that the Government will stick to their long-term plan and continue to back Watford business with better infrastructure and lower taxes on jobs?