Speeches by German.

“There is so much you have said that chimes with me about the change that we need that you are doing in Greater Manchester, so we are grateful to you for having us here today. I would like to turn to working with employers. We have heard in previous evidence sessions that engagement with employers and jobcentres is not …”

“We have talked quite a lot already about joint working between organisations. I want to throw that out a bit wider and talk about other frontline workers—people having face-to-face interactions every day in health or in housing, for example. What work has been done to raise the awareness of those people and how they kn…”

“My question is directed to Sue, if that is okay. You have touched on some of the reforms that have come through from the Government and some of the valuable services that your organisation offers like social prescribing and so on. With those reforms will come investment. I hope to see that come through to support that …”

“That certainly echoes what we heard from the previous panel about using an age-related lens on things that already exist. Yes, that does chime there. You have talked about changing how we do things, which we need to look at. Could the DWP make any small changes in the meantime that would be possible to do in a shorter …”

“Thank you, Andy.”

“I know that the combined authority has highlighted this as well. I wondered what your thoughts were on what a more joined-up system looks like between jobcentres and employers.”

“Related to that, it takes me on to my next question about the ambition that Greater Manchester has, the expectation on employers who want to invest and grow in the city region. I am thinking of the ambition to inspire young people, to invest in adult skills and to be inclusive employers, a social contract if you like: …”

“Thank you. I am a Welsh MP, and that social partnership element is something that we have put into law in Wales. I agree with what you have said. If you can make it that it is part of the deal, employers do sign in and then see the benefits. Thank you so much. I am happy to move on, Chair. I think my questions have bee…”

“Obviously we want to promote inward investment, but we want it to be spread across the country in Wales. How can Wales reflect its regional strengths in investment promotion campaigns for existing infrastructure and transport links—the kind of thing that would really attract an inward investor? For example, in my area …”

“I am glad you mentioned that because I absolutely agree. There are many women, in my direct experience, who are absolutely in the situations you describe. I cared full-time for my children for many years so there will be gaps there. This is the reality of having caring responsibilities and often, as you say, part-time …”

“Matt, Juliet, do you have any thoughts particularly on the range of issues to do with women and the fact that people’s lifestyles will be different leading up to pension age? What could we do to reflect an understanding of that?”

“How do we compare to other countries? Does the UK state pension stack up? Are we doing well? Are there are other countries doing better than us? What is your understanding of that?”

“Who wants to take it next? Who would consider themselves more of an expert?”

“Juliet, do you have anything to add?”

“Fair enough, thank you.”

“I second that!”

“I accept that completely. Linked to my point, it is drawing the boundaries more widely from the north-west, because we are an hour away and there are the airports and the roads. It just seems a good opportunity, as you say, to widen the zone of investment but put it into an area up in the north that is very different f…”

“Thank you. James, there were a couple of emphatic nods from you as well. Do you have anything to add?”

“Thank you. That is more power to my elbow to make the case for it, so thank you very much.”

“Do you think there is scope to develop this kind of cross-border mini-region? I have spoken with colleagues in the north-west before about how we feel we are perhaps missing a trick.”