Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the average wage of people in employment who had been unemployed in the latest period for which figures are available.

The welfare system ensures that work pays and supports claimants through the transition into work. Employment is at a record high and there are 3.9 million more people in work than in 2010. Wages have outpaced inflation for almost a year and a half.

The lowest earners have seen their real wages grow by 11% between April 2015 and April 2019 and on April 1, following the recommendations of the independent Low Pay Commission, the Government will increase the National Living Wage by 6.2% to £8.72 an hour.