National Youth Strategy 2025-01-16
2025-01-16
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
A teacher named Kylie works with excluded young people who have ideas about addressing antisocial behaviour and improving youth provision.
Can the Secretary of State provide an update on how the national youth strategy consultation will involve young people, so that we make sure they are engaged in future policy decisions?
We are absolutely determined to put young people back in charge of their destiny. They know better than we do the challenges that they face, and are often better at identifying the solutions. That is why we have put young people in charge of the strategy. We are co-producing it with them, and we will seek out a range of young people’s voices from every part of the country and every background as part of the process.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
Swimming is an important skill, but many public swimming pools have closed since 2015.
Will the Secretary of State ensure that swimming pools are included in the national youth strategy and support for young people when it comes to swimming? Will she meet me and Eastbourne borough council representatives to discuss how we can best protect our pool in Eastbourne?
I would be delighted to offer the hon. Gentleman a meeting with the Department on this critical issue; I would be amazed if it did not come up in the national youth strategy. The strategy is led by young people, and it is for them to determine their priorities, but I hear this point made by young people in my constituency of Wigan and across the length and breadth of the country.
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Q3
Direct Answer
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Context
The cost of borrowing has reached its highest point since 1997, indicating potential spending cuts. The national citizenship service was cancelled.
Can the Secretary of State provide further detail on revenue and capital spending under the national youth strategy? Can she guarantee that the Chancellor will not balance the books by putting the burden on young people?
Young people should be the focus of this House. We have already announced that £100 million of dormant assets funding will be dedicated to the provision of services, facilities and opportunities to young people, and for 2025-26, we are allocating over £85 million of capital funding to creating fit-for-purpose, welcoming spaces for young people, including through the new better youth spaces fund. We are being driven by the needs of young people.
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