Question
I called at the Poundland store in the Sovereign Shopping Centre a few days ago to check in on the team, speak to the manager and find out how they are doing. Unsurprisingly, they are living with extreme uncertainty. Will the Minister speak directly to the employees of Poundland in Bournemouth and let them know exactly what this Government are doing to support them and save their jobs? After all, they just want to earn a good wage, put food on the table and be able to afford presents under the Christmas tree.
Answer
I thank my hon. Friend for raising that very concerning situation on behalf of his constituents in Bournemouth, and I acknowledge that hundreds of jobs are at stake. I hope he takes some reassurance from my remarks at the Dispatch Box, because this Government intend to do absolutely everything we can to ensure that the business is doing everything it can to protect his constituents’ jobs and thousands of suppliers’ jobs across the country. We want the best possible outcome for the workforce and the future of the business, which is why we are working with the company and the union to protect those jobs.42% vibes
Verdict: AMBER (27/100)
The reply did not address whether the Minister will speak directly to Poundland employees. It responded to the MP instead, offering reassurance from the Dispatch Box. On the second part, it gave a concrete, direct commitment to work with the company and union to protect the jobs at risk, but it did not say whether the Government will communicate its support to the workers themselves. The asker would likely need to follow up on both points.
Verdict: AMBER (32/100)
The reply answered only one of the two parts of the question. The MP asked whether the Minister would speak directly to Poundland employees in Bournemouth, and the reply does not address this, pointing instead to the Minister's earlier remarks at the Dispatch Box. The second part, about what the government is doing to protect jobs, received a clear commitment to work with the company and the union, though it gave no specific support measures. The asker would likely need to follow up on the first point and for concrete details on the second.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will the Minister speak directly to the employees of Poundland in Bournemouth. | Not Addressed | Generic | The reply never says the Minister will speak directly to Poundland employees; it thanks the MP and says he should take reassurance from the Dispatch Box, which is addressed to the MP rather than the workforce. |
| Will the Minister speak directly to the employees of Poundland in Bournemouth. | Not Addressed | Generic | The reply thanks the MP and says he should take reassurance from the Minister's remarks at the Dispatch Box, but never says whether the Minister will speak directly to Poundland employees in Bournemouth, so the item is left unanswered. |
| What the Government is doing to support Poundland employees in Bournemouth and to protect their jobs, and whether it will communicate that to them. | Partially Addressed | Direct | The reply names a concrete action, working with the company and the union to protect the jobs, and acknowledges the jobs at stake, but it never says whether the Government will communicate its support to the employees themselves, so that half of the item is unanswered. |
| What the Government is doing to support Poundland employees in Bournemouth and to protect their jobs. | Addressed | Direct | The reply names a concrete action, that the government is working with the company and the union to protect the jobs, and states a clear commitment to do what it can to protect both the Bournemouth jobs and suppliers' jobs, which answers what is being done. It gives no specific support measures, so the answer is somewhat thin. |