Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Improving Outcomes for Young People

Thursday 15 January 2026 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Chris Vince inquired about empowering young people in Harlow to participate in the youth strategy, highlighting his role as the chair of the all-party parliamentary group for young carers.
  • Joe Robertson questioned the Secretary of State about the rise in youth unemployment and criticized the Chancellor for over-taxing jobs, affecting young people.
  • Anna Sabine raised concerns over cuts to music PGCE bursaries and the impact on children's music education, noting the announcement of 25 million for musical instruments.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Chris Vince Labour (Co-op) Harlow
Children & Families
Context

The Secretary of State published the ground-breaking youth strategy, Youth Matters. Chris Vince is concerned about empowering young people in Harlow to participate.

Question

I thank the Secretary of State for her work on this really important youth strategy. How can young people in my constituency of Harlow be empowered to take part in the youth strategy? She will be aware that I am the chair of the all-party parliamentary group for young carers and young adult carers. Specifically, how has she worked to engage hard-to-reach groups, such as young carers, to be part of the strategy?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lisa Nandy)

From the outset, we were absolutely determined that the strategy would reflect all young people. It was a delight to do a workshop with young carers as part of the development of the youth strategy to ensure that their needs and concerns were met. We are ensuring we only fund organisations that put young people in the driving seat of decisions about how money is spent.

Answered
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Q2 Joe Robertson Con Isle of Wight East
Taxation Employment
Context

The unemployment rate for young people aged 18 to 24 increased by 85,000 in the three months to October last year. Joe Robertson questions how this aligns with government policy.

Question

The best thing the Government can do to support young people is to ensure they have jobs, but in the three months to October last year, unemployment for 18 to 24-year-olds rose by 85,000. What does the Secretary of State have to say to the Chancellor, who is over-taxing jobs, including for young people?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lisa Nandy)

The hon. Gentleman is right that there are supply and demand issues facing young people seeking employment. The Chancellor is focused on creating good jobs in every part of the country. My right hon. Friend Pat McFadden recently announced a programme to specifically target 18 to 21-year-olds, ensuring they do not get written off at a young age.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Over-taxing jobs

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Q3 Anna Sabine Lib Dem Frome and East Somerset
Education Culture, Media & Sport
Context

Data suggests around 50,000 children are not getting adequate music education due to cuts in music PGCE bursaries. Anna Sabine is concerned about the future of music education.

Question

Data suggests around 50,000 children are not getting the music education they deserve and the cuts to music PGCE—postgraduate certificate in education—bursaries will exacerbate the problem. While £25 million of new musical instruments announced by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will be left to collect dust in storage cupboards, what discussions is the Secretary of State having with the Department for Education to ensure we have the teachers to teach the musicians of the future?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lisa Nandy)

I thank the hon. Lady for her question and assure her that there will be no musical instruments collecting dust in storage cupboards. We announced a broader, richer curriculum alongside the Education Secretary at the end of last year, putting music education once again at the heart of the offer for young people. I will have more to say about the programme soon.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Musical instruments collecting dust in storage cupboards

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