THE MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, Stephen Metcalfe rose on the floor of the House of Commons to welcome a recent set of employment figures.
Mr Metcalfe said: "What estimate he has made of the number of people who have been in full-time employment in the last 12 months.
Ian Duncan-Smith said: "Full-time employment has risen by more than 350,000 over the last year, accounting for 99% of the rise in total employment. The number of people in full-time work is at a record high, and is up over 1.5 million since 2010.
Mr Metcale: "I am sure the whole House welcomes this Government’s success in creating more full-time jobs. I hope it will also welcome the fact that wages are now rising by 2.8%, on average, which shows that not only are more people in work, but they are being rewarded better than ever".
IDS: "My hon. Friend is right: nearly 2 million more people take home a pay packet that is increasing, up 2.8% on the year, and for the last nine consecutive months, the increase in pay has outstripped inflation. Even better, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has announced a huge rise in take-home pay through the national living wage, and we should all welcome that".
