To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what meetings (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department have had with trade union and business leaders to discuss the recruitment subsidies announced on 12 January 2009. (269029)

The Secretary of State and ministerial colleagues have ongoing discussions with business and trade union leaders about the full range of employment policies, and have discussed the recruitment subsidy on numerous occasions, including the first meeting of the National Employment Partnership on 11 February.