Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

“Break Down Barriers to Opportunity” Mission

Wednesday 10 December 2025 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Rachel Hopkins welcomed the Labour Government's steps to widen opportunities for those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
  • Vikki Slade highlighted the importance of making care experience a protected characteristic to improve outcomes for care-experienced young people.
  • The Government is working to ensure better outcomes for care-experienced young people, addressing issues like mental health difficulties and the risk of imprisonment.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rachel Hopkins Lab Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Women & Equalities Children & Families
Context

The MP met the 93% Club to discuss social class impact on young people's opportunities. She references Labour Government steps like match funding for criminal barrister pupillages.

Question

Last week, I met the 93% Club to hear more about its vital work to address the impact of social class on young people’s career and life chances. I welcome our Labour Government’s steps to widen opportunities for those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, such as the match funding for criminal barrister pupillages. What other action is this Labour Government taking to level the playing field, so that young people in Luton South and South Bedfordshire, and across the country, can access opportunities, regardless of their background?

Answer from The Minister for Women and Equalities (Bridget Phillipson)

I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who has long campaigned on these issues. The central driving mission of this Labour Government is to ensure that background is no barrier to success. That is why we are expanding free school meals, lifting the two-child benefit limit, introducing a new youth guarantee and bringing in maintenance grants for disadvantaged students. Of course, we are also rolling out free breakfast clubs, and it was brilliant to visit Denbigh primary school with her to see one open.

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Q2 Vikki Slade Lib Dem Mid Dorset and North Poole
Mental Health Children & Families
Context

The MP attended an event at the Dorset Museum discussing care-experience as a protected characteristic in local councils. She asks if it can be extended nationally.

Question

Earlier this year, I attended an amazing event at the Dorset Museum called “In My Shoes” for care-experienced young people, who explained the importance of making care experience a protected characteristic, as we have done in many councils, including mine in Mid Dorset and North Poole. Will the Minister take the same step with Cabinet colleagues, and consider making care experience a protected characteristic?

Answer from The Minister for Women and Equalities (Bridget Phillipson)

The hon. Lady raises an important issue, and we are doing lots of work across Government to make sure we have better outcomes for care-experienced young people, who are sadly more likely than other young people to experience mental health difficulties or even end up in prison. I lead that work together with the Deputy Prime Minister to make sure that the voices of care leavers are heard. It is why, for example, with the introduction of new targeted maintenance grants and the wider reforms that we are bringing to the higher education system, we are working right across Government to make sure that all Departments are pulling together.

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