Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce the number of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals in insecure work.

The Government is committed to supporting people from all backgrounds, including those from ethnic minorities, to move and stay in work. Our Plan for Jobs Programme protects, supports and creates jobs, targeting young people, the long term unemployed, and those in need of new training and skills.

As the economy improves, we will increasingly focus on progression to improve opportunities for those in low-paid work and support them towards financial independence. The In-Work Progression Commission published an independent Call for Action (see attached) to help people progress out of low pay on the 1 July. Government will consider the recommendations and respond later in the year.

We also continue to develop the evidence base for helping people progress their careers and raise their earnings. Building on the findings of our In-Work Progression Randomised Controlled Trial, published in 2018 we are conducting research and working across Government to support progression. We are also testing a work coach led support offer to develop new approaches to progression for Universal Credit claimants.