It is pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Cheadle (Mary Robinson), although I have to say that I disagree with her, in that I do not think the Budget of 2023 will go down in history as the moment when the UK Government finally got to grips with 13...

It is pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Cheadle (Mary Robinson), although I have to say that I disagree with her, in that I do not think the Budget of 2023 will go down in history as the moment when the UK Government finally got to grips with 13...

The hon. Gentleman talks about the squeezed middle, and I agree that they will not benefit from the Budget either.

There are 800,000 fewer owner-occupiers today than there were in 2010, while the number of rough sleepers has grown by a staggering 169%. We heard no mention of health in the...

The hon. Gentleman talks about the squeezed middle, and I agree that they will not benefit from the Budget either.

There are 800,000 fewer owner-occupiers today than there were in 2010, while the number of rough sleepers has grown by a staggering 169%. We heard no mention of health in the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many jobs in the IT industry have moved from the UK to other countries in the last 10 years; and what assessment he has made of the impact on the number of IT jobs in the UK in the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many jobs in the IT industry have moved from the UK to other countries in the last 10 years; and what assessment he has made of the impact on the number of IT jobs in the UK in the...

: I am sure that the hon. Gentleman has read the welfare reform Green Paper carefully, but may I draw his attention to chapter 7? We say there:"““The reforms set out in this Green Paper will reduce much of the complexity surrounding existing benefits for those facing health problems and...

: I am sure that the hon. Gentleman has read the welfare reform Green Paper carefully, but may I draw his attention to chapter 7? We say there:"““The reforms set out in this Green Paper will reduce much of the complexity surrounding existing benefits for those facing health problems and...

: I cannot immediately identify the relevant diagram in the Green Paper, but although I respect the hon. Gentleman's great intellect he should read the section where we address the employment support allowance carefully, because he will see that that allowance is an addition, over and above the basic JSA...

: I cannot immediately identify the relevant diagram in the Green Paper, but although I respect the hon. Gentleman's great intellect he should read the section where we address the employment support allowance carefully, because he will see that that allowance is an addition, over and above the basic JSA...

: I acknowledge that the economy has been in a flattened period in the past year, but would the hon. Gentleman acknowledge that although there has been a slight rise in claimant count, we have also seen a welcome reduction of those on active benefits, including both lone parents and...

: I acknowledge that the economy has been in a flattened period in the past year, but would the hon. Gentleman acknowledge that although there has been a slight rise in claimant count, we have also seen a welcome reduction of those on active benefits, including both lone parents and...

: In his analysis of the labour market, will the hon. Gentleman acknowledge that nearly 2.4 million new jobs have been created since year zero—1997—and that even in the past year, which I believe we all accept has been a more difficult year for the economy and the labour market,...

: In his analysis of the labour market, will the hon. Gentleman acknowledge that nearly 2.4 million new jobs have been created since year zero—1997—and that even in the past year, which I believe we all accept has been a more difficult year for the economy and the labour market,...

: I simply pose a question back to the hon. Gentleman, in his role as the Liberal Democrat spokesman. Is my understanding correct that if he held my position he would propose a massive increase in JSA to bring it into line with current levels of incapacity benefit, with additions...

: I simply pose a question back to the hon. Gentleman, in his role as the Liberal Democrat spokesman. Is my understanding correct that if he held my position he would propose a massive increase in JSA to bring it into line with current levels of incapacity benefit, with additions...

: I accept that entirely, but I would go further: there is not only a business case, but a social exclusion case. The reason why we have focused our energy on those who have traditionally been most disadvantaged in and ignored by the labour market is that, although we want...

: I accept that entirely, but I would go further: there is not only a business case, but a social exclusion case. The reason why we have focused our energy on those who have traditionally been most disadvantaged in and ignored by the labour market is that, although we want...

: I shall try to respond to the key issues that have been raised in the debate, but I start by saying that I do not think that we could have had a debate of this nature eight or nine years ago. I want to retain the atmosphere that we...

: I shall try to respond to the key issues that have been raised in the debate, but I start by saying that I do not think that we could have had a debate of this nature eight or nine years ago. I want to retain the atmosphere that we...

: Hidden behind those figures are all the lone parent personal advisers, which are counted as part of the administration. The service that they provide is a direct service to lone parents—perhaps the most important element of our service because it helps in relation to the issues raised by my...

: Hidden behind those figures are all the lone parent personal advisers, which are counted as part of the administration. The service that they provide is a direct service to lone parents—perhaps the most important element of our service because it helps in relation to the issues raised by my...

: I am astounded by that remark because I think that that figure is jolly good. If the hon. Gentleman were to examine labour market interventions throughout the world, he would find that it is necessary to work pretty hard and make comprehensive interventions to secure the sort of result...

: I am astounded by that remark because I think that that figure is jolly good. If the hon. Gentleman were to examine labour market interventions throughout the world, he would find that it is necessary to work pretty hard and make comprehensive interventions to secure the sort of result...

: That tends to be my view. I have looked a little at the experience in America, where the system involves much more compulsion, and at the impact of that. As in the rest of the welfare reform Green Paper, our purpose is not to cut the benefits bill, much...

: That tends to be my view. I have looked a little at the experience in America, where the system involves much more compulsion, and at the impact of that. As in the rest of the welfare reform Green Paper, our purpose is not to cut the benefits bill, much...

: I was going to develop that thought. The evidence from America, where there is much more compulsion through the work test, is that lone parents and their children get locked into a downward spiral—a cycle of deprivation. The women tend to go, because they are forced to do so,...

: I was going to develop that thought. The evidence from America, where there is much more compulsion through the work test, is that lone parents and their children get locked into a downward spiral—a cycle of deprivation. The women tend to go, because they are forced to do so,...

: Not at all. We have built an infrastructure to make work pay through the tax credit system and we have supported children's opportunities through the child care infrastructure of Sure Start and extended schools. Because of that and because of our effective stewardship of the economy, we do not...

: Not at all. We have built an infrastructure to make work pay through the tax credit system and we have supported children's opportunities through the child care infrastructure of Sure Start and extended schools. Because of that and because of our effective stewardship of the economy, we do not...

: I will not take another intervention because there are only five minutes left and I want to deal with—

: I will not take another intervention because there are only five minutes left and I want to deal with—

: In that case, I will take another intervention, but just let me finish the point. Bringing lone parents with us is much more effective in the longer term in tackling poverty and in ensuring that lone parents move into sustained employment, which is the key to ensuring a better...

: In that case, I will take another intervention, but just let me finish the point. Bringing lone parents with us is much more effective in the longer term in tackling poverty and in ensuring that lone parents move into sustained employment, which is the key to ensuring a better...

: I am so tempted that I cannot resist saying that, as long as we have a Labour Government, I am completely confident that we will continue to have good stewardship of the economy and a growing number of jobs with which to increase the employment rate. We will ensure...

: I am so tempted that I cannot resist saying that, as long as we have a Labour Government, I am completely confident that we will continue to have good stewardship of the economy and a growing number of jobs with which to increase the employment rate. We will ensure...

: The proposals in the Green Paper suggest that we should lower the age in relation to which we start requiring lone parents to come in for work-focused interviews. From October last year, we introduced quarterly work-focused interviews for lone parents whose youngest child was 14. The Green Paper proposals...

: The proposals in the Green Paper suggest that we should lower the age in relation to which we start requiring lone parents to come in for work-focused interviews. From October last year, we introduced quarterly work-focused interviews for lone parents whose youngest child was 14. The Green Paper proposals...

: All the new deals involve private and voluntary sector participation, because often the services that we need to provide for individuals are most appropriately provided by private and voluntary sector partners. As we have said, as we roll out the next phase of pathways to work services throughout the...

: All the new deals involve private and voluntary sector participation, because often the services that we need to provide for individuals are most appropriately provided by private and voluntary sector partners. As we have said, as we roll out the next phase of pathways to work services throughout the...