Brooks Newmark questions Government on action to help young women find work
Brooks Newmark welcomes the continued fall in unemployment but questions the Government on action to help young women in particular get back into work.
Mr Brooks Newmark (Braintree) (Con): Unemployment in Braintree between May 2010 and May 2014 has dropped from 3.4% to 2%, and youth unemployment in that same period has dropped from 6.3% to 3.8%. There remains a challenge, however, in that the unemployment rate is not falling as fast for young women as it is for young men. What are the Government’s policies doing to help young women to get back into work?
Esther McVey: I am pleased to say that unemployment is falling right across the country and across all age groups. Employment is up as a consequence. We are doing significant things. We now have record numbers of women going into work, and at record rates. Our policies, more than anything, are supporting young girls.