Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Young People not in Education, Employment or Training

Monday 12 May 2025 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial jobcentres will create a universal service across Great Britain to serve young people.
  • Government is reviewing universal credit to ensure young people have a chance before age 25.
  • Thanet's young people not in education, employment, or training hit a high of 11.6%, the highest in the south-east.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Chris Murray Lab Edinburgh East and Musselburgh
Employment Children & Families
Context

The question addresses the high percentage of young people out of work in Scotland post-pandemic. Chris Murray notes that one in eight UK young people are not in employment, education or training (NEET), and in Scotland, this figure is higher at one in six.

Question

In the pandemic, young people were among the least at risk, but they gave up so much of their lives to protect those who were at risk. No generation has made such a sacrifice for another since the war, but they have been badly let down: across the UK, one in eight are not in employment, education or training, and it is worse in Scotland, where the figure is one in six young Scots. What steps is the Minister taking to mitigate the inaction of the SNP Scottish Government and build a better future for young Scots?

Answer from The Minister for Employment (Alison McGovern)

As I just mentioned, our new jobcentres will create a universal service across Great Britain. We must make those changes to serve young people. My hon. Friend makes an excellent point about the pandemic generation, who deserve much better from us all. I know that his city of Edinburgh is full of chances and opportunities that we cannot let go to waste. Given the role of Edinburgh and Glasgow in our visitor economy, I am sure that he will be interested in the work we are doing with UKHospitality to help more young people to have an opportunity in that great sector.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide specific actions or commitments beyond mentioning new jobcentre initiatives and highlighting opportunities in hospitality.

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Q2 Wendy Chamberlain Lib Dem North East Fife
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question highlights the lower universal credit rate for young people and questions whether this is appropriate given their additional financial challenges.

Question

Struggling to make ends meet, paying bills, buying work appropriate clothing and paying for public transport all affect someone’s ability to get and keep a job. That is just as true for under-25s as it is for anybody else, but the Government continue to maintain a lower rate of universal credit for young people when there is no guarantee that they have financial support from their families. In looking at universal credit, will the Government consider that?

Answer from The Minister for Employment (Alison McGovern)

As the hon. Member will know, we are reviewing universal credit. I am particularly focused on ensuring that young people have a chance before they reach the age of 25. If they are out of work in those first years after leaving school or college, it is absolutely devastating for the rest of their careers. That is why we are making these changes.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide specific details about current reviews or future plans to adjust universal credit rates for young people without family support.

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Q3 Polly Billington Lab East Thanet
Employment Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

The question addresses the impact of denying access to the health-related element of universal credit and asks if this affects opportunities for young people to find employment.

Question

Over the weekend I was shocked, but not surprised, to see the new statistics for young people in Thanet who are not in education, employment or training—having hit 11.6%, the figure is the highest in the south-east. Some 3% of young people in Thanet also experience support for special educational needs. Although I am not suggesting that correlation equals causation, can the Minister explain how denying access to the health-related element of universal credit will help those young people into work?

Answer from The Minister for Employment (Alison McGovern)

The House will know that we have consultations in a number of policy areas relating to my hon. Friend’s question. As I have said, in the end, young people need an opportunity at the start. In places like Thanet, where there are significant poverty and challenges but great opportunity, I want to ensure that we serve employers, and the young people who need them, much better.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide a specific explanation on how denying access to health-related elements of universal credit affects employment opportunities for young people with special educational needs.

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Q4 Peter Bedford Con Mid Leicestershire
Employment
Context

The question addresses the concerns about employers being less likely to hire young people due to increased risk under the Employment Rights Bill.

Question

Employers in my constituency tell me that they are less likely to employ young people as a result of the Employment Rights Bill because of the increased risk of employing someone at the start of their career. What representations has the Minister made to her colleagues to ensure that the most damaging parts of that legislation are softened?

Answer from The Minister for Employment (Alison McGovern)

The House may know that, on coming into office, the Secretary of State and I totally changed the way the Department for Work and Pensions approaches employers. We want to serve them much better, and we have given them a single point of contact. Having met many businesses over the past six or seven months, my experience has been that they have vacancies and want us to help fill them. We will do that so that we can serve employers and young people alike.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide specific details on representations made about the Employment Rights Bill or actions taken to mitigate potential negative impacts on youth employment.

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