To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent steps he has taken to help reduce the cost of living for young people not in education, employment or training in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent steps he has taken to help reduce the cost of living for young people not in education, employment or training in Northern Ireland.

What discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on (a) increasing the proportion of adults with professional qualifications and (b) reducing the proportion of adults who are economically inactive in Northern Ireland.

What discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on (a) increasing the proportion of adults with professional qualifications and (b) reducing the proportion of adults who are economically inactive in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the data paper on Northern Ireland’s trade and investment under no deal, published by the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy, whether the figure of up to 40,000 jobs losses within key industries in the event that the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the data paper on Northern Ireland’s trade and investment under no deal, published by the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy, whether the figure of up to 40,000 jobs losses within key industries in the event that the...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made in reducing the levels of youth unemployment in Northern Ireland over the last three years.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made in reducing the levels of youth unemployment in Northern Ireland over the last three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent progress the Government has made on reducing youth unemployment levels in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent progress the Government has made on reducing youth unemployment levels in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps the Government is taking to tackle youth unemployment in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps the Government is taking to tackle youth unemployment in Northern Ireland.

What steps the Government is taking to tackle youth unemployment in Northern Ireland.

What steps the Government is taking to tackle youth unemployment in Northern Ireland.

What steps the Government is taking to tackle youth unemployment in Northern Ireland.

What steps the Government is taking to tackle youth unemployment in Northern Ireland.

What steps the Government is taking to tackle youth unemployment in Northern Ireland.

What steps the Government is taking to tackle youth unemployment in Northern Ireland.

The questions are timely because last week’s figures show that youth unemployment in Northern Ireland has fallen by 3.3 percentage points over the year, and is 175,000 lower than in May 2010. The Government’s long-term economic plan is promoting a sustainable economic recovery from the mess we inherited, and it is directly assisting young people into real jobs that have a future.

The questions are timely because last week’s figures show that youth unemployment in Northern Ireland has fallen by 3.3 percentage points over the year, and is 175,000 lower than in May 2010. The Government’s long-term economic plan is promoting a sustainable economic recovery from the mess we inherited, and it is directly assisting young people into real jobs that have a future.

I welcome those youth unemployment figures. However, Northern Ireland’s youth unemployment figures remain significantly higher, at 19.2%, than in the rest of the UK. That has a big impact not only on those young people, but on the security of Northern Ireland. Why have the Government allowed this situation to persist, and what will they do to stop it?

I welcome those youth unemployment figures. However, Northern Ireland’s youth unemployment figures remain significantly higher, at 19.2%, than in the rest of the UK. That has a big impact not only on those young people, but on the security of Northern Ireland. Why have the Government allowed this situation to persist, and what will they do to stop it?

The matter to which the hon. Lady refers is of course primarily the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive. I must observe, however, that unemployment among young people in Northern Ireland rose by 35% between May 1997 and May 2010; it has gone down by 3.3 percentage points in this year alone.

The matter to which the hon. Lady refers is of course primarily the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive. I must observe, however, that unemployment among young people in Northern Ireland rose by 35% between May 1997 and May 2010; it has gone down by 3.3 percentage points in this year alone.

Last week’s labour market statistics show a worrying growth in female unemployment. What are the Government doing to address that imbalance?

Last week’s labour market statistics show a worrying growth in female unemployment. What are the Government doing to address that imbalance?

Female unemployment is of course a concern right across the United Kingdom, as is unemployment in general. I would observe the number of apprenticeships being created by this Government. It is important that we get young people, male and female, into jobs for the long term, and not indulge in short-term gimmicks.

Female unemployment is of course a concern right across the United Kingdom, as is unemployment in general. I would observe the number of apprenticeships being created by this Government. It is important that we get young people, male and female, into jobs for the long term, and not indulge in short-term gimmicks.

The chief economist of Ulster Bank has said that under-25s are failing to participate in Northern Ireland’s labour market recovery. Does the Minister agree that we need to address young people’s prospects, and will he welcome the Heenan-Anderson commission, which will examine skills and education?

The chief economist of Ulster Bank has said that under-25s are failing to participate in Northern Ireland’s labour market recovery. Does the Minister agree that we need to address young people’s prospects, and will he welcome the Heenan-Anderson commission, which will examine skills and education?

I certainly welcome any comments from any commission that are worth reading. I would add that the commission recently set up by the Labour party to look into problems in Northern Ireland, chaired by Deirdre Heenan, has started somewhat poorly. She said by tweet, within minutes of being appointed, that the

“key issue for Labour is a lack of distinct policies”.

I certainly welcome any comments from any commission that are worth reading. I would add that the commission recently set up by the Labour party to look into problems in Northern Ireland, chaired by Deirdre Heenan, has started somewhat poorly. She said by tweet, within minutes of being appointed, that the

“key issue for Labour is a lack of distinct policies”.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps she is taking to tackle youth unemployment in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps she is taking to tackle youth unemployment in Northern Ireland.

What steps she is taking to tackle youth unemployment in Northern Ireland.

What steps she is taking to tackle youth unemployment in Northern Ireland.

The November labour market survey reports that the unemployment rate in Northern Ireland for 18 to 24-year-olds has come down 5% over the year, and the Government are directly helping to get young people into work by abolishing national insurance contributions for businesses employing under-21s and apprentices aged under 25.

The November labour market survey reports that the unemployment rate in Northern Ireland for 18 to 24-year-olds has come down 5% over the year, and the Government are directly helping to get young people into work by abolishing national insurance contributions for businesses employing under-21s and apprentices aged under 25.

The Minister will be aware that unemployment in Northern Ireland is much higher than the UK average, and a recent survey by the Belfast Telegraph found that two thirds of young people wanted to leave Northern Ireland. What specific steps is he taking to improve skills and training to encourage young people to stay in Northern Ireland?

The Minister will be aware that unemployment in Northern Ireland is much higher than the UK average, and a recent survey by the Belfast Telegraph found that two thirds of young people wanted to leave Northern Ireland. What specific steps is he taking to improve skills and training to encourage young people to stay in Northern Ireland?