The unemployment rate has fallen slightly over the last 12 months, by 0.1%pts to 4.2%.<\/p>
<\/p>
The unemployment rate does not capture everyone who is out of work. The economic inactivity rate has increased by 0.7%pts, equivalent to 350,000 people, over the same period. Economic inactivity due to long-term sickness is at a near-record high at 2.8m.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4083", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alison McGovern"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birkenhead"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alison McGovern"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-09-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-09-05T16:31:16.72Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-09-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Unemployment"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment has been made on trends of unemployment rates over the last 12 months.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"} ], "uin" : "3982"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1726619", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Energy Security and Net Zero"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1726619/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Details of Ministers\u2019 meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.<\/p>
<\/p>
This Government will ensure a phased and responsible North Sea transition. We will manage the North Sea in a way that does not jeopardise jobs. As Britain becomes a clean energy superpower, the government is determined to create new high-quality jobs, working with business and trade unions.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4998", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Michael Shanks"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rutherglen"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Michael Shanks"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-09-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-09-05T06:31:41.407Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "215"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Energy Security and Net Zero"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Energy Security and Net Zero"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-09-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Refineries: North Sea"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he consulted (a) Unite the Union, (b) GMB and (c) other trade unions on the potential closure of oil and gas refineries in the North Sea.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4759", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Joy Morrissey"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Beaconsfield"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Joy Morrissey"} ], "uin" : "3779"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1726632", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Northern Ireland Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1726632/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Following a comprehensive assessment of the company\u2019s financial profile and the criteria set out in UK Government risk policies, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade confirmed in a Written Ministerial Statement on 22 July that the UK Government had decided not to proceed with the provision of an Export Development Guarantee to Harland and Wolff.<\/p>
This was not an easy decision, but we concluded that the market is best placed to resolve these commercial matters. Government funding would not necessarily secure our objectives, and there is a risk that taxpayer money would be lost.<\/p>
We want to see an outcome for Harland and Wolff that delivers shipbuilding and fabrication in Northern Ireland and protects jobs, and we encourage all parties to engage with trade unions before further decisions are made.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/413", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Hilary Benn"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds South"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Hilary Benn"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-09-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-09-06T12:59:02.497Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "21"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-09-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Harland and Wolff: Northern Ireland"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he is taking steps to secure further funding for Harland and Wolf in Northern Ireland.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4131", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Shannon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Strangford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Shannon"} ], "uin" : "3700"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1726665", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1726665/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programmes began on 1 September in England. The immunisation offer consists of a maternal programme for pregnant women to protect newborn babies, a routine programme for those turning 75 years old, and a catch-up programme for people already aged 75 to 79 years old. Older adults will remain eligible until the day before they turn 80 years old, except for people who turn 80 years old in the first year, who have until 31 August 2025 to get vaccinated.<\/p>
When a new vaccination programme is introduced, the Government must make difficult decisions on who to offer the vaccine to. These decisions are based on advice the Department receives from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), and includes evidence of the impact a vaccination has in different groups, as well as the capacity of the system to deliver the programme alongside all other healthcare priorities.<\/p>
For the maternal RSV programme, vaccination will be offered to pregnant women from 28 weeks of gestation to provide protection from RSV for babies during the first six months of life, when they are most vulnerable. The JCVI noted in their September 2023 statement that the available data on RSV vaccinations before week 28 of gestation was less compelling.<\/p>
The JCVI also noted that the burden of RSV in older adults is less well understood and is considered to be underestimated by existing routine surveillance. The committee agreed that more work was required to obtain better estimates of the RSV burden in adults.<\/p>
There was also less certainty about how well the vaccine works in people aged 80 years old and older. There were not enough people of this age in the clinical trials to be able to see if the vaccines are protective in this age band. The JCVI therefore suggested an initial programme to potentially vaccinate a cohort aged from 75 to 80 years old, and then for those turning 75 years old in subsequent years.<\/p>
The structure of an immunisation programme is dynamic and the JCVI will continue to review the data available on who should be offered an RSV immunisation. It was noted in the June 2023 JCVI advice that \u2018an extension to the initial programme would be considered when there is more certainty about protection in the very elderly and the real-world impact of the programme in the 75- to 80-year-olds\u2019. A link to the JCVI statement on the introduction of an RSV vaccination programme is available at the following link:<\/p>