Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Andrew Bridgen and Greg Hands

Tuesday 1st December 2015 Commons Chamber

[Greg Hands]

I join the hon. Gentleman in welcoming so many disabled people to Parliament today, and I agree with him about the importance of doing more to help disabled people into work. That is why we extended the access to work scheme and launched the Disability Confident scheme, to ensure that employers better understand the benefits of recruiting and retaining disabled workers, the specialist employability support and the Work and Health programme, which we launched this year.

[Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire) (Con)]

Will the Minister confirm that about 3.2 million people with disabilities are in work now, and that the Government are looking to see that number increase dramatically over the next few years?

[Greg Hands]

My hon. Friend is right. This is one of the most important aspects of the Government’s work. He is correct to say that disability employment is now up to 3.2 million, which is an increase of 340,000 since 2013, up 74% on the year. We are increasing real-terms spending on disability employment by around 15% by the end of this Parliament.

Productivity

Debate between Andrew Bridgen and Greg Hands

Wednesday 17th June 2015 Commons Chamber

[Greg Hands]

My hon. Friend is quite right. Labour seems not to be learning the lessons of the general election five weeks ago. Encouraging enterprise and promoting sound public finances by dealing with the deficit are extremely important, so I entirely agree.

[Andrew Bridgen]

At least twice during his opening speech the shadow Chancellor said that we are now seeing highly skilled employees replaced by low-skilled employees. Does my right hon. Friend agree that the shadow Chancellor should not talk himself down like that?

[Greg Hands]

My hon. Friend makes his point in his usual way. All that I can say—