Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mark Hoban and Karen Lumley

Monday 5th November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Karen Lumley (Redditch) (Con)]

3. What recent steps he has taken to expand the new enterprise allowance.

[The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Mr Mark Hoban)]

Because self-employment is the right option for many unemployed people, on 22 October we expanded the new enterprise allowance so that additional jobseekers could take part. We have also extended it so that jobseekers can take part from the first day on which they claim jobseeker’s allowance, rather than having to wait for six months.

[Karen Lumley]

In Redditch, more than 40 people have taken up the opportunity to be mentored under the enterprise allowance scheme. What else can be done to encourage more jobseekers to start their own businesses?

[Mr Hoban]

My hon. Friend has made a good point. I think that we should try to give good examples to jobseekers about where they can start businesses. Under Get Britain Working, we can set up job clubs to encourage people to see self-employment as an option for the future. I think that that is a good route out for many people with great skills.