Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Youth Hubs 2026-06-29

Monday 29 June 2026 · 9 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 6 Not answered 0

Key points

  • We are making strong progress on expanding youth hubs, with around 130 already in operation across Great Britain.
  • My hon. Friend is right, and I thank Cardiff football club for being a partner. We are supporting nearly 1 million young people and creating up to half a million opportunities for jobs and training.
  • The Minister acknowledges the importance of wraparound local authority hubs for care leavers and states that he will try to ensure a member of the ministerial team calls into Fatima's event.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jim Dickson Lab Dartford
Children & Families
Context

The MP notes the ongoing effort to expand youth hubs and asks about recent progress.

Question

What recent progress has been made on expanding youth hubs?

Answer from Pat McFadden

We are making strong progress on expanding youth hubs, with around 130 already in operation across Great Britain. In March, I announced the locations that we want to open this year, and I have just announced a further 180 locations for the following two years.

Answered
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Q2 Alex Barros-Curtis Lab Cardiff West
Education
Context

The MP acknowledges the announcement of new youth hub locations and asks about the focus on mathematics skills in these facilities.

Question

I thank my right hon. Friend for that brilliant news, and I hope that they will focus on mathematics skills as well—I could do with some of that. Young people were left behind by the previous Conservative Government, with 13.2% in south-east Wales not in employment, education or training.

Answer from Pat McFadden

My hon. Friend is right, and I thank Cardiff football club for being a partner. We are supporting nearly 1 million young people and creating up to half a million opportunities for jobs and training.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific focus on mathematics skills in youth hubs was not addressed

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Q3 Christopher Vince Lab Co-op Harlow
Context

The MP highlights the importance of youth hubs in his constituency, referencing a report by Alan Milburn.

Question

As you will be aware, Mr Speaker, my Harlow constituency is full of incredibly talented young people, some of whom I had the pleasure to meet at a recent Harlow college awards ceremony. Alan Milburn's report makes it clear that young people are being let down by a broken system and deep-seated barriers, rather than by their own ambition.

Answer from Pat McFadden

My hon. Friend is a great champion of Harlow and the people of Harlow, and I believe he will make maximum use of the youth hub to advance opportunities for young people in his constituency.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Concrete details about services offered or impact not provided

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Q4 Josh Dean Lab Hertford and Stortford
Children & Families
Context

The MP expresses excitement about a youth hub in his constituency, noting the challenges of rurality.

Question

There is already much excitement in my community that East Herts will be home to one of the new youth hubs being rolled out by this Labour Government. I represent a semi-rural area where young people often have to make significant journeys across or even outside the constituency to access the services and support they need.

Answer from Pat McFadden

My hon. Friend raises an important point. As I said, we recognise that transport can be a real barrier for young people in rural areas, so we have designed youth hubs to be flexible and to work with local partners on tailoring delivery for what works best in each area.

Answered
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Q5 Jim Dickson Lab Dartford
Housing Mental Health Children & Families
Context

The MP notes the upcoming youth hub in Dartford and asks about its schedule and services.

Question

Constituents in Dartford are also pleased that our area has been chosen as one of the local authorities to receive a youth hub. We have a growing population of under-25s, all of whom are talented and enthusiastic and want to get into the workplace.

Answer from Pat McFadden

The Dartford youth hub is scheduled to open in the next financial year, and it will bring together a range of support. Youth hubs include mental health support, housing support, and skills and career opportunities all in one place.

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Q6 Caroline Dinenage Con Gosport
Employment
Context

The MP criticizes the government for increasing youth unemployment and questions the impact of new initiatives.

Question

I cannot help thinking that, with youth hubs, the Government are trying to fix a problem of their own creation. The amount of young unemployed people in my constituency has gone up 23% since the Government took office in July 2024.

Answer from Pat McFadden

As Alan Milburn pointed out in his recent report, the UK's NEET crisis is much more long-term and deep-seated than any decisions taken in the last few years. There are 400,000 more people in work than last year. The number of young people in employment is up by 74,000 since the election.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific plans to address unemployment not detailed

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Q7 Julian Lewis Con New Forest East
Children & Families Local Government
Context

Fatima Whitbread, an Olympic athlete, is in Parliament to stress the importance of wraparound local authority hubs for care leavers. These hubs work with education, sport, police and charity sectors.

Question

With Fatima Whitbread stressing the importance of wraparound local authority hubs for care leavers, will a member of the ministerial team talk to her about her ideas in this field?

Answer from Pat McFadden

The Minister acknowledges the importance of wraparound local authority hubs for care leavers and states that he will try to ensure a member of the ministerial team calls into Fatima's event.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment on which ministerial team member will attend

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Q8 Gideon Amos Lib Dem Taunton and Wellington
Education Employment
Context

Young Somerset has helped people who have been failed by the education system into secure employment through supported internships.

Question

Will the Minister congratulate Young Somerset on their supported internships programme and meet me to discuss cuts in funding and reduction of these internships?

Answer from Pat McFadden

The Minister congratulates Young Somerset on their supported internships programme but does not confirm a meeting to discuss funding cuts.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment on when and if the meeting will happen

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Q9 Robin Swann Ulster Unionist Party South Antrim
Northern Ireland Children & Families
Context

Voices for Impacts youth advisory group's Glengormley youth centre has been cut to one night per week.

Question

What encouragement can the Secretary of State give young people that youth hubs will be extended to Northern Ireland, considering their current lack of funding?

Answer from Pat McFadden

The Minister believes youth hubs are applicable to every part of the United Kingdom and encourages young people to know that the Government wants more opportunities for them.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitment on funding or timeline for extension in Northern Ireland

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