There is a longstanding acceptance that the Government has a responsibility to help and support people who can work to do so, but equally that people have a responsibility to take up that offer. Unfortunately, in recent years that commitment from Government has not been there. Britain is the only G7 country where employment has not returned to pre-epidemic levels and has almost 3 million people unable to work through long term sickness or disability. There are one million young people not in education, employment or training and millions in work but in low paid insecure jobs.

That’s not how modern economies should work and the Governments recent White Paper on Getting Britain Working shows the way forward.

The employment service needs to move away from a one size fits all approach, work more closely with employers and be joined up with other services like healthcare. Across public services there will be greater investment in AI to provide data about where the jobs are and the skills needed to do them. I have never accepted a view of young people which has them as malingerers avoiding work and the Youth Guarantee will give them an opportunity to earn or learn.

We also need to address worklessness through ill health which is why we need to concentrate on getting waiting lists down and make sure people with mental health issues get the support they need. With this help and support however comes the responsibility to accept that offer because a healthy nation and a healthy economy are two sides of the same coin.