Business Hiring
Debate between Lord Bellingham and Baroness Lloyd of Effra(1 week, 4 days ago)
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Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)
My noble friend is right to draw attention to the importance of many different contributors to the employability, ability and capabilities of young people. That is indeed around skills and training, which is why we are investing in further education and in matching skills with the modern industrial strategy, working with employers. It is also why we are paying attention to changes in provision on mental health and in early years, such as the expansion of free school meals, to provide all children with the best start in life.
Lord Bellingham (Con)
My Lords, will the Minister tell the House exactly which part of the Employment Rights Act will create jobs and encourage employment?
Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)
The Employment Rights Act will benefit 18 million workers. Having secure employment where you know that you have the right to sick pay and that you can take leave when you have a family is an attribute of a modern functioning labour market.
Self-employed: Paternity Leave
Debate between Lord Bellingham and Baroness Lloyd of Effra(3 weeks, 2 days ago)
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Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)
Parents and families of all compositions are trying their best to bring their children up. The Government are there to provide support, whether through, for example, free school meals or employment rights. There are many ways to do so, which is why there is complexity in looking at what further should be done.
Lord Bellingham (Con)
My Lords, during the passage of the Bill that became the Employment Rights Act, the Minister talked a lot about consultation with small businesses—for example, the FSB, the union of independent businesses and the NFU. Can she tell the House how much support from small businesses there was for this measure and the wider measures? Will there be ongoing consultation, maybe every year, on the impact of these measures in the future?
Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)
The terms of reference of the parental leave and pay review make it clear that we are consulting businesses and looking at the impact on the Exchequer. We will continue to consult businesses of all sizes in taking forward this suite of reforms.