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Select committee: Economic Affairs Committee

2nd Report - Where have all the workers gone? (20 December 2022)

Published 20 December 2022

Economic Affairs Committee UK labour supply Report on parliament.uk ↗

At a glanceGovernment response published 2 May 2023 (deadline 28 April 2023)

The government's response

Letter from the Rt Hon Mel Stride MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, to the Chair of the Economic Affairs Committee (26 May 2023)

Published 15 June 2023. The deadline was 28 April 2023.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The Secretary of State says the government is "wholly committed to driving down economic inactivity" and that a package of cross-government measures announced at Budget "represents the conclusion of my review".

  • The letter says the Secretary of State was tasked at the Autumn Statement with leading work across government on workforce participation.
  • The package is described as designed to help people to enter work, increase their working hours and extend their working lives, focusing on disabled people and those with health conditions, the over-50s and parents.
  • The letter states that the government "is continuing to consider how we can increase workforce participation", while now focused on delivering the package alongside existing support.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

Government Response from the Department of Works and Pensions to the UK labour supply inquiry (April 2023)

Published 2 May 2023.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government says it has "considered the recommendations" and, rather than responding to each in turn, sets out an "update on how we are addressing this issue", pointing mainly to measures announced at the Spring Budget 2023.

  • On health and inactivity, the government "welcomes the committee's focus" and describes Spring Budget 2023 measures including Universal Support, the WorkWell partnerships pilot and expanded Individual Placement and Support.
  • On older workers and retirement, it will "continue to use these statistics to monitor trends in retirement", noting it is "too early to determine" whether changes since 2019 are short-term or longer-term.
  • On furlough, HM Treasury and HMRC are publishing an evaluation in 2023 and, "where feasible with the available data", plan to look at the impact on inactivity.
  • On immigration, the government says it is "not currently our intention" to introduce a general route for recruitment at or near the minimum wage, and states that improving pay and conditions is the key long-term solution.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

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