Employment Incentives

17 Mar

Question

The debate on employment incentives in the House of Commons highlighted significant concerns and initiatives across various fronts. The primary areas of focus included the effectiveness of the universal credit system, initiatives to engage long-term unemployed individuals, efforts to curb benefits fraud, and addressing delays in the Access to Work scheme.

Key Statistics and Contributions:

Alison McGovern noted that 30% of the increase in incapacity benefits claims since the 2018 universal credit roll-out could be attributed to demographic changes, while 70% remains unexplained, suggesting gaps in social security targeting.
Lincoln Jopp voiced concerns over social media platforms that potentially guide individuals on abusing the benefits system, stressing the need for ministerial oversight.
Chris Vince highlighted successful collaborations between Stansted Airport and jobcenters aimed at reintegrating the long-term unemployed into the workforce.
Steve Darling raised issues concerning the backlog in Access to Work applications, pointing to the risk of job offers being rescinded for disabled individuals due to processing delays.

30% of incapacity benefit claims increase explained by demographic changes since 2018

Attributed to the structure of universal credit.

The discussions revealed a general consensus on the need for enhanced governance mechanisms to oversee social security programs and more robust partnerships between employers and jobcenters.

70% unexplained increase in claims

Suggests possible deficiencies in social security mechanisms.

Outcome:

Alison McGovern assured that steps are being taken to strengthen relationships between the Department for Work and employers. The ongoing Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill addresses fraud concerns, which are crucial given the new digital challenges.
Actions were highlighted to augment staff and resources to resolve the Access to Work backlog immediately, showcasing the government's commitment to its manifesto promise.

Outcome

The session concluded with a reinforced commitment to address identified gaps within the benefits and employment engagement systems. Measures were discussed to enhance fraud prevention, streamline departmental connections with employers, and faster rectify backlog in processing applications for the disabled.

Key Contributions

Lincoln Jopp

Conservative

Questioned the adequacy of employment incentives, expressed concern over benefits fraud, highlighted taxpayer frustration with the exploitation of the system.

Alison McGovern

Defended policy effects on employment numbers, addressed issues surrounding fraud media, and assured continued focus on improving departmental relationships with employers.

Chris Vince

Labour

Provided a positive example by showcasing collaboration between local jobcenters and employers to aid long-term unemployed constituents.

Steve Darling

Liberal Democrats

Criticized delays in Access to Work applications, underscored risks for employment opportunities among the disabled, and sought reassurance for mitigative actions.

Original Transcript

Lincoln Jopp

Spelthorne

Con

Question

UIN: 903200

7. What assessment she has made of the adequacy of incentives to seek employment.

Lincoln Jopp

14:55

The people of Spelthorne are very hard-working and do not mind their taxes being paid for a safety net for the most vulnerable in our society, but they really do get annoyed when they see their taxes going to people who are scamming the benefits system.

What assessment have any of the Ministers on the Front Bench made of so-called sickfluencer sites—social media platforms where people are shown how to game the benefits system? Have any of them looked at those sites? Are they a good or bad thing?

Chris Vince

Harlow

Lab/Co-op

14:59

On Friday I visited Stansted airport, a huge employer for my constituency, and found out about the important work it is doing with the DWP and the jobcentre to get long-term unemployed people back into work.

What work is the Department doing with organisations such as Stansted airport to promote good practice, such as that at Stansted and Working Minds in my constituency?

Alison McGovern

Through my hon. Friend, I give my thanks to everybody at Harlow jobcentre, because it sounds like they have their shoulders to the wheel in getting job opportunities for people who need them.

When we arrived in the Department, we uncovered that there was not nearly a good enough relationship between the Department and employers.

That is why we put a new strategy in place to do the basics well: there is a single point of contact and we are making sure that there is on-the-job training that is tailored to specific employers.

We will be doing more to promote change in that area, but I thank everyone in Harlow for the efforts they are making.

Mr Speaker

15:00

I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.

Steve Darling

Torbay

15:00

There continue to be unacceptable delays in processing Access to Work applications, both for my constituents in Torbay and across the country. This leads to fears among disabled people that job offers will be withdrawn by their would-be employers.

What reassurance can the Minister give the Chamber that the Government have plans afoot to tackle that backlog?

Alison McGovern

The hon. Member makes an important point. We had a manifesto commitment to try to tackle the backlog. We have put more staff in place to deal with that backlog, but we have more to do, because it is important that disabled people are able to take up jobs that are offered to them.

We need to make sure that that is a scheme that works.

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