To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer of 2 April 2014, Official Report, column 722W, on conditions of employment, whether current guidelines allow claimants through Jobcentre Plus to be found zero-hours contract jobs which include exclusivity clauses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the answer of 2 April 2014, Official Report, column 722W, on conditions of employment, whether current guidelines allow claimants through Jobcentre Plus to be found zero-hours contract jobs which include exclusivity clauses.

I beg to move an amendment, at the end of the Question to add:

“but regret that the measures in the Gracious Speech fail to ensure that those who put in a hard day’s work get a decent reward for doing so, or cut the costs to the social security system...

I beg to move an amendment, at the end of the Question to add:

“but regret that the measures in the Gracious Speech fail to ensure that those who put in a hard day’s work get a decent reward for doing so, or cut the costs to the social security system...

(2) pursuant to the answer of 2 April 2014, Official Report, column 723W, on conditions of employment, how many and what proportion of vacancies available on Universal Jobmatch are zero-hours contracts jobs.

Mr Umunna:

(2) pursuant to the answer of 2 April 2014, Official Report, column 723W, on conditions of employment, how many and what proportion of vacancies available on Universal Jobmatch are zero-hours contracts jobs.

Mr Umunna:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have been referred to jobs on zero-hours contracts through Jobcentre Plus in each month since May 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have been referred to jobs on zero-hours contracts through Jobcentre Plus in each month since May 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have moved off jobseeker's allowance to jobs on zero-hours contracts in each month since May 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have moved off jobseeker's allowance to jobs on zero-hours contracts in each month since May 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance is issued to Jobcentre Plus on recommending jobs on zero-hours contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance is issued to Jobcentre Plus on recommending jobs on zero-hours contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion and number of job outcomes from the work programme were in zero-hours contracts roles in each month since the programme began.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion and number of job outcomes from the work programme were in zero-hours contracts roles in each month since the programme began.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion and number of jobs currently advertised through Jobcentre Plus are on zero-hour contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion and number of jobs currently advertised through Jobcentre Plus are on zero-hour contracts.

I beg to move,

That this House believes that insecurity at work has increased under this Government, compounding the cost of living crisis facing families; further believes that the Government’s policies have made life less secure for people at work by watering down their rights, including protections against unfair dismissal and...

I beg to move,

That this House believes that insecurity at work has increased under this Government, compounding the cost of living crisis facing families; further believes that the Government’s policies have made life less secure for people at work by watering down their rights, including protections against unfair dismissal and...

I shall come on to the point about the nature of the work and the jobs created. Of course it is a good thing for the hon. Lady’s constituents that there are more opportunities, but I shall return to that point.

I shall come on to the point about the nature of the work and the jobs created. Of course it is a good thing for the hon. Lady’s constituents that there are more opportunities, but I shall return to that point.

My hon. Friend is right. It is worth recalling that when my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition first talked about the cost of living crisis and the squeezed middle, Members on the Government Benches and their supporters ridiculed the very notion, but the existence of that living...

My hon. Friend is right. It is worth recalling that when my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition first talked about the cost of living crisis and the squeezed middle, Members on the Government Benches and their supporters ridiculed the very notion, but the existence of that living...

I will come on to zero-hours contracts shortly, if there is some patience on the Government Benches.

This living standards crisis is not just one of rising costs and falling wages. It is one, too, of increasing insecurity at work. People in work today feel less secure and more pressurised at...

I will come on to zero-hours contracts shortly, if there is some patience on the Government Benches.

This living standards crisis is not just one of rising costs and falling wages. It is one, too, of increasing insecurity at work. People in work today feel less secure and more pressurised at...

My hon. Friend is right. Almost 1 million young people are still out of work and that is why we have said that we will introduce a compulsory job guarantee to ensure that young people who have been out of work for more than a year have a job.

My hon. Friend is right. Almost 1 million young people are still out of work and that is why we have said that we will introduce a compulsory job guarantee to ensure that young people who have been out of work for more than a year have a job.

I think that I have had this discussion with the hon. Member for Mid Bedfordshire (Nadine Dorries) elsewhere. Some will say, as the hon. Gentleman suggests, in the context of falling unemployment, that the main thing is that people should have a job and that, unemployment having rising for much...

I think that I have had this discussion with the hon. Member for Mid Bedfordshire (Nadine Dorries) elsewhere. Some will say, as the hon. Gentleman suggests, in the context of falling unemployment, that the main thing is that people should have a job and that, unemployment having rising for much...

My hon. Friend is right to raise that issue. We all remember those who lost their lives a decade ago, and our thoughts are with their families. Of course, that was why we set up the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, and we believe that we should consider expanding its remit to...

My hon. Friend is right to raise that issue. We all remember those who lost their lives a decade ago, and our thoughts are with their families. Of course, that was why we set up the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, and we believe that we should consider expanding its remit to...

My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and I will move on to zero-hours contracts shortly.

My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and I will move on to zero-hours contracts shortly.

That is right. Zero-hours contracts are perhaps most symptomatic of the increasing insecurity we are seeing in today’s workplace.

That is right. Zero-hours contracts are perhaps most symptomatic of the increasing insecurity we are seeing in today’s workplace.

My hon. Friend is totally correct to raise that issue. Not only is it an issue of justice in the workplace, but it is also—[Interruption.] I have completely forgotten the point I was going to make—one of those moments. Ah, the thought has returned to me: it is also bad...

My hon. Friend is totally correct to raise that issue. Not only is it an issue of justice in the workplace, but it is also—[Interruption.] I have completely forgotten the point I was going to make—one of those moments. Ah, the thought has returned to me: it is also bad...

That is absolutely right. I will explain how we are seeking to promote that through the payment of the living wage.

That is absolutely right. I will explain how we are seeking to promote that through the payment of the living wage.

I am going to make a little more progress and will perhaps give way a bit later.

I was about to go into the shape and the nature of the employment that we see. There are those who are in work but cannot get the additional hours that they want. Over...

I am going to make a little more progress and will perhaps give way a bit later.

I was about to go into the shape and the nature of the employment that we see. There are those who are in work but cannot get the additional hours that they want. Over...