Covid-19: Levelling-up Agenda

Lord McFall of Alcluith Excerpts

Tuesday 8th September 2020 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Penn (Con)]

My Lords, the Government are completely committed to avoiding any widening of inequality during this pandemic. That is why, during the summer, we announced our plan for jobs. It contains three elements: protecting jobs, such as by cutting VAT for the tourism and hospitality sectors, which have been particularly affected, until January next year; creating new jobs, including through the £2 billion new green homes grant, which will create new job opportunities; and supporting jobs through measures such as the kickstart scheme.

[The Senior Deputy Speaker (Lord McFall of Alcluith)]

Lord Greaves? I call the noble Baroness, Lady Wheatcroft.

[Baroness Wheatcroft (Non-Afl) [V]]

The Government pledged to move policymakers into what Michael Gove termed

“overlooked and hitherto undervalued communities”,

yet many Civil Service jobs are now being advertised as remote working. These are not just junior roles but £60,000 and £70,000-a-year jobs, which would help level up communities. Can the Minister assure the House that when government departments move, the civil servants will have to go with them?

--- Later in debate ---

[The Senior Deputy Speaker (Lord McFall of Alcluith)]

I call the noble Lord, Lord Greaves. No? As all supplementary questions have been asked, we now move on to the next Question.