Business Hiring
Debate between Baroness Ramsey of Wall Heath and Lord Hunt of Wirral
Lord Hunt of Wirral
To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of current business hiring intentions and their implications for the wider economy.
Baroness in Waiting/Government Whip (Baroness Ramsey of Wall Heath) (Lab)
The UK labour market and economy remain resilient despite geopolitical uncertainties. The UK had the fastest-growing economy in the G7 in the first quarter of this year. For the labour market, ONS data shows that there are 399,000 more people in work than a year ago, and its business insights survey shows that over 80% of businesses intend to either maintain or increase their staff levels in July this year.
Lord Hunt of Wirral (Con)
My Lords, on behalf of the House, I welcome the Minister for her first Question. But is she aware that, last week in the other place, speaker after speaker condemned the Employment Rights Act, the impact of the increase in national insurance contributions and regulations generally, which have created the largest number of young people not in education, employment or training for well over 10 years? Is she further aware that the other place then proceeded to pass a Motion, without one vote against, to say that the Government should change course to support summer jobs, flexible working and seasonal work? Does the Minister accept that judgment of the elected House? What specific changes of policy is the new Prime Minister, Mr Burnham, going to bring in?
Baroness Ramsey of Wall Heath (Lab)
That is a nice and easy first question. It is an honour, and slightly terrifying, to answer my first Oral Question from a previous Secretary of State for Employment. It is, however, a very interesting Question.
Summer jobs—particularly in hospitality, retail and tourism—are often a young person’s first step into the labour market. My own first summer job was as a guide at the Black Country Museum. As a Government, we are not complacent about the challenges that we face. The Government are investing £2.5 billion through the youth guarantee and the growth and skills levy to support almost 1 million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn. This includes expanded work experience opportunities, skills boot camps, foundation apprenticeships, sector-based work academy programmes and incentives for employers to hire young apprentices. Alongside this, the Government are supporting hospitality businesses through business rates reforms, sector-specific funding and measures to boost summer demand.