Youth Unemployment 2023-11-13
2023-11-13
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question focuses on the Department's actions to reduce youth unemployment.
What steps his Department is taking to reduce youth unemployment. I visit businesses on a weekly basis, and one thing they tell me in Ashfield is that they struggle to recruit apprentices because of English and maths requirements. What more can we do to get those young people into apprenticeships and support them with their maths and English at a later stage?
The level of youth unemployment is down by 43.8% since 2010, with a Government commitment to deliver targeted support through our expanded DWP youth offer. Apprentices are funded to achieve English and maths qualifications by the end of their apprenticeships, with a 54% boost in the rate for those qualifications from January. We also pilot flexible English and maths requirements for young people with learning difficulties or disabilities.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about easing recruitment barriers was not directly addressed; instead general support measures were mentioned.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Economic inactivity due to ill health has more than doubled for 18 to 24-year-olds over the past decade.
Why does the Minister think economic inactivity due to ill health has more than doubled for 18 to 24-year-olds over the past decade? Could she also please look again at the closure of the local jobcentre in Halton Lea in my constituency because of building safety issues?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question—I will happily take away his second point, have a look at it and get back to him in writing. I want to assure that DWP youth hubs together in one location help young people who have been going through difficult times because of covid, local youth experts and partnerships come together to overcome barriers.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about the closure was not directly addressed; instead general support for youth hubs was discussed.
Will Look Into
Response accuracy
Q3
Direct Answer
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Context
Anglo American and its contractors have just announced 70 new job opportunities at the Woodsmith mine near Whitby.
Does the Minister agree that these sorts of opportunities in the mining industry are just the sorts of opportunities that young people need to grasp with both hands?
I thank my right hon. Friend for his question, which goes back to the point about knowing what jobs are just down the road for young people so that the labour market comes closer to home for them. That is what our youth employability work coaches do and we saw with the kickstart programme: 163,000 jobs were created by employers who want young people in their businesses.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The latest figures show a 7% youth unemployment claimant count in the constituency of Denton and Reddish.
Given that the share of young people not in full-time employment or education rose last year, what more is the Minister doing to make sure that young people in places such as Denton and Reddish get the life chances they deserve?
I absolutely agree that it is right that young people get the opportunities they deserve. Since September 2020, the DWP's youth offer has seen over 600,000 starts. Our comprehensive support for young people now encompasses those from age 16.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about additional actions was not directly addressed; general commitment to opportunities was stated.
Under Review
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
The current youth employment rate is being compared to other countries and the aftermath of a financial crisis.
What account can she give for the fact that, even after 13 and a half years of Conservative Government, we have worse youth unemployment than Ireland, Norway and the Czech Republic? What on earth has gone wrong?
The current youth employment rate is 53.9%, up three percentage points since 2010, with around 140 new youth hubs supporting complex needs of young people across communities. I humbly suggest that the hon. Member goes and looks at the changes happening to see the difference being made in communities.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask for an explanation was not directly addressed; general improvements were mentioned instead.
Under Review
Response accuracy