Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to encourage businesses to recruit young people.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
This Government is committed to backing young people, bringing down the number of those who are not learning or earning and incentivising the hiring of new talent. We are investing an additional £2.5 billion by 2029 through the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy. This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn, including unlocking up to 200,000 opportunities for employment. The Government is also committing to over £1bn to deliver training opportunities targeted at key industries, including £295m for 29 new Technical Excellence Colleges that will serve over 100,000 students and deepen employer partnerships.
Through the Youth Guarantee, we are encouraging:
- businesses to take on new talent through a new Youth Guarantee Gateway
- additional work experience and training opportunities
- a £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant
- a £2,000 apprenticeship hiring payment for employers
- a fully funded six-month job for long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds
Employers are also not required to pay Employer National Insurance Contributions for employees under-21 and for apprentices under-25, on earnings up to £50,270.
Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when the Government will publish the Mobile Market Review.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government is undertaking a Mobile Market Review to assess major developments in the sector and their impact on investment in high-quality connectivity. The Call for Evidence, which closed on 5 May, sought views on whether the regulatory framework supports future investment, innovation and competition in mobile networks. We are considering the responses alongside our continued engagement with industry and other stakeholders, and we intend to provide an update on the Review’s findings and next steps later this year.
Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the potential (a) health benefits and (b) cost savings to the NHS of extending eligibility for the shingles vaccination to immunocompetent people who were aged 65 to 69 before 1 September 2023 and are not currently eligible until they reach the age of 70.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
As part of the expansion of the shingles vaccination programme down to adults aged 60 years old, in line with the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, adults turning 65 and 70 years old became eligible for vaccination from 1 September 2023. This phased roll-out was agreed as a means of maximising population benefit and cost-effectiveness, whilst taking account of National Health Service delivery capacity. There are no plans to change this approach to eligibility in advance of 1 September 2028, when the second phase of the expansion will begin, and adults will become eligible for shingles vaccination when they turn 60 and 65 years old.