Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Young People and Work Report

Monday 9 March 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 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Adam Thompson asked about recent progress on the young people and work report, highlighting issues in Derbyshire with 16 and 17-year-olds not in education, employment or training.
  • The Minister responded by emphasizing the commitment to ensuring disadvantaged young people access to high-quality apprenticeships and new job opportunities.
  • Danny Chambers inquired about the Department's assessment of recent graduate unemployment, noting that many graduates are not receiving responses to their job applications.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Adam Thompson Lab Erewash
Education Employment
Context

The right hon. Alan Milburn is working on a report about young people and work, and it is pertinent to Derbyshire's high NEET rates.

Question

What recent progress has been made on the young people and work report. With almost 8% of 16 and 17-year-olds not in education, employment or training, Derbyshire is the worst county in the east midlands for NEET. In New Stanton Park in Ilkeston, major investments are bringing good manufacturing jobs back to Erewash. Will the Secretary of State share the work he is doing to ensure that apprenticeships are available to disadvantaged young people so that they can thrive, instead of being left behind?

Answer from Pat McFadden

My hon. Friend brings valuable experience to this matter, including his experience of teaching engineering apprentices at the University of Nottingham. We are committed to ensuring that disadvantaged young people have access to high-quality apprenticeships and can benefit from the new jobs being created in places such as Erewash as a result of the changes in how the growth and skills levy is used—as I have explained in response to earlier questions—and the extension of youth hubs in the region to give young people who may not be claiming benefit or undertaking an apprenticeship the chance of finding that vital first job.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide specific details on the work being done to ensure apprenticeships are available to disadvantaged young people.

How: Committed To Ensuring That Disadvantaged Young People Have Access To High-Quality Apprenticeships

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Q2 Adam Thompson Lab Erewash
Education Employment
Context

The right hon. Alan Milburn is working on a report about young people and work, and it is pertinent to Derbyshire's high NEET rates.

Question

With almost 8% of 16 and 17-year-olds not in education, employment or training, Derbyshire is the worst county in the east midlands for NEET. In New Stanton Park in Ilkeston, major investments are bringing good manufacturing jobs back to Erewash. Will the Secretary of State share the work he is doing to ensure that apprenticeships are available to disadvantaged young people so that they can thrive, instead of being left behind?

Answer from Pat McFadden

My hon. Friend brings valuable experience to this matter, including his experience of teaching engineering apprentices at the University of Nottingham. We are committed to ensuring that disadvantaged young people have access to high-quality apprenticeships and can benefit from the new jobs being created in places such as Erewash as a result of the changes in how the growth and skills levy is used—as I have explained in response to earlier questions—and the extension of youth hubs in the region to give young people who may not be claiming benefit or undertaking an apprenticeship the chance of finding that vital first job.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer did not provide specific details on the work being done to ensure apprenticeships are available to disadvantaged young people.

How: Committed To Ensuring That Disadvantaged Young People Have Access To High-Quality Apprenticeships

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Q3 Danny Chambers Lib Dem Winchester
Employment Science & Technology
Context

Sophia, a recent graduate from Winchester, has been applying for hundreds of jobs and not receiving replies, raising concerns about the impact of AI on graduate employment.

Question

Sophia, whom I spoke to in my constituency office in Winchester this morning, is one of many recent graduates—often with really good degrees from really good universities—who have been applying for hundreds of jobs and not even receiving replies. Has the Department carried out an assessment of the impact of artificial intelligence, in all its forms, on graduate employment prospects over the next few years? What work has been done with universities and institutions that offer apprenticeships to ensure that young people are graduating with the right set of skills to be able to work in this era of artificial intelligence?

Answer from Pat McFadden

The hon. Member has posed a very good and important question, and the issue of graduate unemployment is by no means confined to the UK. In the United States, for example, a similar debate about graduate unemployment is taking place. The truth is that structural developments are happening in the labour market. Technology is undergoing a big shift, and I think that all Governments must ask themselves how to help young people through this transition. The one thing that we cannot do is abandon them to it: we have to train people, and we have to ensure that the UK is best placed to take advantage of this big technological shift.

Not addressed: The answer did not provide any specific assessment or work done with universities regarding AI's impact on graduate employment.

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