Welfare to Work (Hansard, 30 October 1997)

§ 17. Mr. Reed
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has had about the implementation of his welfare-to-work strategy. [12665]

§ 20. Mr. Coaker
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with industry about his welfare-to-work strategy. [12668]

§ 21. Mrs. Heal
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with employers about his welfare-to-work strategy. [12669]

§ 23. Laura Moffatt
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with employers about his welfare-to-work strategy. [12671]

§ 32. Ms Kelly
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with business about his welfare-to-work strategy. [12680]

§ 36. Mr. Martyn Jones
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with business about the implementation of his welfare-to-work strategy. [12684]

§ Mr. Gordon Brown
The participation of employers is crucial to the success of the welfare-to-work programme. Since I launched the welfare-to-work programme at a business breakfast at No. 11, the Government have had extensive contacts with a wide range of employers—nationally and locally; in small firms and large—and in every sector of the economy and every region of the country.
The response and good will has been extremely encouraging, Sainsbury?s, Tesco, BT, Lloyds bank, Ford, Rover, Marks and Spencer, Unipart, WH Smith—and many others—are coming up with ways that they can help the new deal. They realise that helping young people move from welfare to work is in the interest of business as well as the young people themselves. It is only by helping to improve the skills and employability of our young people that we can address the long-standing weaknesses of our economy and allow businesses to thrive.