Oral QuestionDepartment for Work and Pensions

If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.

Tabled: 21 April 2026Answered: 27 April 2026

Asked by

Mr Lee Dillon

Liberal DemocratNewbury

Answering Minister

the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Answer from Hansard

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Pat McFadden)

Since our last DWP oral questions, I have updated the House on the expansion of our youth employment offer, I have been to an excellent job fair in Glasgow, I have said that the latest unemployment figures show a fall, and last week I went back to university—it was the McDonald’s Hamburger University. My Big Mac was not perfect, but I welcome McDonald’s as the latest employer to support our youth guarantee. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Social Security and Disability has said that the “right to try” regulations have come into force and, as we have mentioned, we also have the changes on statutory sick pay, which significantly expand coverage and make it available from the first day of employment.