Arcadia and Debenhams: Business Support and Job Retention Debate
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Simon Fell
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Arcadia and Debenhams: Business Support and Job Retention
Simon Fell Excerpts(4 years ago)
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Paul Scully
I agree that it is so important that we continue a viable business where it is possible, and I know that the administrators will have that at heart.
Simon Fell (Barrow and Furness) (Con)
The news about Debenhams and Arcadia will cause many concerns as we head into Christmas. Can my hon. Friend reiterate the support that the Government will make available to the employees who face an uncertain future? Further to that, this year alone in Barrow, we have lost M&S and Topshop, so Debenhams will be another heavy blow. What support will the Government provide to offer hope to the high street in future?
Paul Scully
In terms of employees, as well as universal credit and access to other support through Jobcentre Plus, we will connect people to jobs in the labour market, help with their employment skills, such as CV writing, interview skills and so on, and identify transferable skills. It is, though, so important that we do more than that for our high streets to create the opportunities for those people to take up, through the future high streets fund and the work that we are doing with the Retail Sector Council and others at every level of government.