• The new Work and Pensions Secretary today outlined how the Government’s back to work plan is crucial to driving the economy forward
• During a visit to Leeds with a ministerial team, Liz Kendall identified tackling inactivity as a top priority, saying mayors and local authorities would be the drivers of change
• The visit follows the Chancellor’s speech earlier this week in which he set out immediate actions to repair the foundations of the economy, rebuild the UK and improve every part of the country.

The visit comes days after Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves MP set out the Government’s first steps to securing sustained economic growth as the only way to improve the country’s prosperity and the living standards of working people.

Ms Kendall said rising levels of economic inactivity were unacceptable and urgent action was needed. There were currently 9.4 million people who were economically inactive, a record 2.8 million people were unemployed due to long-term illness, and 900,000 young people (1 in 8) were not in education, employment or training.

In her first visit as Secretary of State, along with the rest of the ministerial team, Liz Kendall MP will confirm the three pillars of the Government’s back to work plan:

• A new national employment and careers service to help more people find and stay in work.
• New plans for jobs, healthcare and skills for economically inactive people, delivered by mayors and local authorities.
• Guarantee for all young people aged 18 to 21.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall MP said:

Growth is our most important focus and, as the Chancellor has said, our Back to Work Plan is key to delivering our plans.

The lack of economic activity is holding back Britain’s development – ​​it is bad for people, bad for businesses and bad for economic growth.

It is not enough that the UK is the only G7 country where employment has not returned to pre-pandemic levels.

It is time for change in every corner of the country.

We will create more good jobs, make work pay, reskill and reorganise employment offices, and take action to eliminate the root causes of unemployment, including poor physical and mental health.

Changes implemented at a local level for the local community, driving development and ensuring opportunity and prosperity for everyone, regardless of where they live.

At the beginning of the week, the Minister of Health presented how to cut NHS waiting lists will help Britain get healthy and back to work; and how, by taking bold public health action, we can build the healthy society necessary for a healthy economy.

Under DWPUnder the plan, Jobcentre Plus and the National Careers Service will be combined to help more people find work and support those looking for better opportunities to find better paid work.

The Youth Guarantee means more opportunities for training, apprenticeships or help in finding a job for all young people aged 18-21, thereby preventing young people from being excluded from the world of work at an early age.

More disabled people and those with health conditions will be supported to enter and stay in employment by giving local authorities more power to shape the comprehensive job, health and skills offer that meets the needs of the people they serve.

During my visit to Leeds today DWPThe new ministerial team will visit the employment office to see for themselves how help is provided to people with health problems, those aged 18 to 24 and those over 50.

They will then be joined by Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, to visit Smart Works, a charity that works to build clients’ confidence and help them prepare for job interviews by providing free clothes for interviews.