Support for NEET Young People 2026-03-09

2026-03-09

TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Direct Answer
Alex McIntyre Lab
Gloucester
Context
The MP highlighted the increase in young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) and the need for government intervention.
What steps he is taking to support young people into employment, education or training. The statistics for the second half of 2024 show the number of young people not in education, employment or training had increased by around 300,000 since 2021.
Over three years, the Government will invest some £1.5 billion to improve opportunities for young people through both the youth guarantee and more youth apprenticeships. We are expanding the number of youth hubs to more areas of the country, and we aim to add about 50,000 more starts through the change to youth apprenticeships.
Assessment & feedback
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Q2 Direct Answer
Connor Rand Lab
Altrincham and Sale West
Context
The MP highlighted Wiseup Networks, an organisation based in his constituency that provides work experience and mentoring opportunities for young people.
I draw the Secretary of State's attention to Wiseup Networks, an organisation, based in my constituency, that enables employers across Manchester and London to provide young people with work experience and mentoring opportunities for those with social and economic barriers to work, including young people with special educational needs. Will the Secretary of State meet me and Wiseup Networks to discuss how we can support its vital work?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for highlighting the valuable work of Wiseup Networks. He is absolutely right; work experience and mentoring can play a very important role in helping young people to find work. Confidence can be an issue for young people, so building that up is really important. I am happy to arrange a meeting between him and a Minister from this team.
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Q3 Partial Answer
Linsey Farnsworth Lab
Amber Valley
Context
The MP highlighted the success of the David Nieper Academy in achieving zero NEETs and the need for national programmes to complement local initiatives.
I am delighted that the Secretary of State is planning to visit the David Nieper Academy in Alfreton later this year. The school recently achieved zero NEETs at age 18 for the second year running by working closely with local industry and teaching employability skills. Local initiatives such as that should be complemented by national programmes. Will the Secretary of State provide an update on the results of the Wakefield pathfinder, which is seeking to trial a new, locally led approach to jobseeker support? Given our success in Alfreton, can he confirm whether Amber Valley could be considered as a location for the next pathfinder?
I thank my hon. Friend for highlighting the excellent work of the David Nieper Academy in achieving NEET zero. She mentions the career service pathfinder in Wakefield, which was launched in April 2025. We are testing more personalised employment support, and evaluation is under way to understand how this approach works. It is right that we approach these matters with flexibility and innovation.
Assessment & feedback
Specific confirmation on whether Amber Valley could be considered as a location for the next pathfinder was not provided.
Approach These Matters With Flexibility And Innovation
Response accuracy
Q4 Partial Answer
Josh Dean Lab
Hertford and Stortford
Context
The MP highlighted the impact of undiagnosed ADHD on young people not in employment, education or training and the cost to the UK economy.
A young person with undiagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is more likely not to be in education, employment or training. That is driven by a lack of recognition, treatment and tailored support. The expert-led NHS ADHD taskforce estimates that the cost to the UK economy of unsupported ADHD is £17 billion each year. Will the Secretary of State set out how the Department is working across Government, including through the Milburn review, to ensure that young people with ADHD can access the support they need to thrive in work and reach their potential?
I know that my hon. Friend has spoken movingly about his own experience with ADHD. I assure him that Alan Milburn, a former Health Secretary who is carrying out this report for us, is in regular contact with the chair and secretariat of the independent review into prevalence and support for mental health conditions, ADHD and autism, which is being carried out by the Department of Health and Social Care.
Assessment & feedback
Specific details on how the Department is ensuring young people with ADHD can access the support they need to thrive in work and reach their potential were not provided.
Alan Milburn, A Former Health Secretary Who Is Carrying Out This Report For Us, Is In Regular Contact
Response accuracy
Q5 Partial Answer
Anneliese Midgley Lab
Knowsley
Context
The MP highlighted the positive impact of the youth guarantee and the need for expansion in Knowsley.
Last week I met with Knowsley chamber of commerce, and we all welcomed the Government's youth guarantee. Some 55,000 placements is a great start, but no scheme starts are currently planned in Knowsley, where the likelihood of young people not being in employment, education or training is higher than average. Will the Secretary of State commit to expanding the scheme and meet me and Knowsley chamber of commerce to discuss how we can get more young people into good jobs in Knowsley?
My hon. Friend has spoken powerfully of how unemployment in her constituency has scarred generations. I assure her that the youth guarantee will become nationwide by the end of the year. We have to break the cycle of intergenerational unemployment that she has spoken about, and I share her desire to be more ambitious in that area. I am very happy to keep up a dialogue with her and to meet with her, or to have a fellow Minister in the team do so.
Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment to expanding the scheme in Knowsley was not provided.
Be More Ambitious In That Area
Response accuracy
Q6 Direct Answer
Alex McIntyre Lab
Gloucester
Context
The MP highlighted the work of Gloucestershire Gateway Trust in providing employability skills courses and helping local residents who were furthest from employment.
Gloucestershire Gateway Trust does vital work in my constituency, helping those not in employment, education or training back into work. It runs the Bridging the Gap programme, which provides an employability skills course and a guaranteed interview at the country's best motorway services, Gloucester services. It also ran the Going the Extra Mile project, which supported over 2,000 local residents who were furthest from employment. Can the Secretary of State visit my constituency to see the work that Gloucestershire Gateway Trust is doing, and to discuss how we can work with community and voluntary organisations to tackle these challenges from the ground up?
Gloucestershire Gateway Trust has helped create over 400 jobs for local residents. It continues to provide invaluable support, and I am very happy to take the opportunity to visit my hon. Friend's constituency at some point—diary permitting, as they say.
Assessment & feedback
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Q7 Partial Answer
Graham Stuart Con
Beverley and Holderness
Context
A local organisation in Long Riston, part of Beverley and Holderness, faces a significant increase in business rates and higher costs for hiring young people.
Might the Secretary of State come to Long Riston to see Oasis services, where I visited on Friday? The services face a fivefold increase in business rates and a £4,000 increase in hiring young people. Does the national youth guarantee not remind you of Ronald Reagan's view that if something is moving, they tax it; if it keeps moving, they regulate it; and when it stops moving, they subsidise it?
The truth is that the Conservatives presided over a huge post-covid rise in the number of young people not in education, employment or training, and they did precisely nothing about it. They also presided over a huge rise in the number of young people going on to sickness and disability benefits and did precisely nothing about it. They have discovered a thirst for change only after leaving office—they have no credibility and no plan on this issue. In contrast, we are responding through the youth guarantee, through changes to the apprenticeship system, and by giving young people more hope that the Government will help give them a chance in life.
Assessment & feedback
The Secretary of State did not address the specific ask about visiting Long Riston and assessing the impact of the youth guarantee.
Criticising Previous Government
Response accuracy
Q8 Partial Answer
John Milne Lib Dem
Horsham
Context
A recent Adzuna report shows youth unemployment at an 11-year high and a decline in job vacancies. The current timeframe for the new digital service is 2028.
A recent Adzuna report shows youth unemployment at an 11-year high and a decline in job vacancies. The new 'jobcentre in your pocket' digital service is not expected until 2028. Will the Secretary of State assure us that all options, including leveraging the private sector and technology, are being considered to accelerate delivery and support jobseekers now, rather than years down the line?
We do want to support jobseekers now. As I said, there is a long-term challenge with youth unemployment, which we are responding to through the measures I have outlined. If we can be more ambitious than those measures in the future, we very much will.
Assessment & feedback
The Secretary of State did not provide a specific timeline or commitment to accelerating the digital service's delivery.
Response accuracy
Q9 Partial Answer
Greg Smith Con
Mid Buckinghamshire
Context
The Centre for Social Justice reported that 707,000 young people with university degrees were out of work and on benefits. Employers in Mid Buckinghamshire are seeking apprentices instead of graduates.
The Centre for Social Justice reported 707,000 young people with university degrees are out of work and on benefits. Employers in Mid Buckinghamshire are seeking apprentices instead of graduates. What is the Secretary of State doing in conjunction with the Department for Education to better signpost young people into pathways for learning and education that will actually help them get a job further down the line?
The hon. Gentleman will find that graduate unemployment is an international issue. If we want more non-higher education skills, he should support our plans to stop the decline that we saw in youth apprenticeship starts when his party was in power and to direct more money to youth apprenticeship starts. That is precisely what we will do.
Assessment & feedback
The Secretary of State did not provide specific actions or commitments related to guiding young people into employment pathways.
Criticising Previous Government
Response accuracy
Q10 Partial Answer
Vikki Slade Lib Dem
Mid Dorset and North Poole
Context
MYTIME Young Carers in Dorset identifies and supports young people with caring responsibilities. A recent survey found that one in three young carers aged 16 to 18 are not in education, employment, or training.
MYTIME Young Carers in Dorset works to identify and support young people with caring responsibilities. A survey found that one in three young carers aged 16 to 18 are not in education, employment, or training. What steps is the Department taking to level the playing field for young carers alongside their peers, so that they can fulfil their potential?
The hon. Lady makes a good point. When we look at the total number of NEETs, within that is what we might regard as standard unemployment cases, a lot of health, sickness and disability cases and a significant number of young carers. One of the things we are doing is expanding childcare support through free breakfast clubs and extending the number of free hours so that we can support young parents to get into work after they have had a child.
Assessment & feedback
The Secretary of State did not address specific steps for young carers, focusing instead on general childcare support.
Response accuracy
Q11 Partial Answer
Tom Gordon Lib Dem
Harrogate and Knaresborough
Context
The MP visited Ventrolla, a heritage window manufacturer, which expressed concern about the recent announcements of apprenticeship reform and their potential impact on apprenticeships.
The MP visited Ventrolla, a specialist heritage window manufacturer in his constituency, concerned about apprenticeship reform. Ventrolla signed a cross-party and cross-organisation letter to the Prime Minister about sector concerns over the changes to apprenticeships. What conversations are Ministers having with businesses like Ventrolla to ensure these changes do not adversely impact the sector and rob young people of opportunities and apprenticeships?
We have a lot of dialogue with businesses about the nature of the growth and skills levy and how it is used. I have to say to the hon. Gentleman and to the House that we are making a choice to prioritise young people. It is precisely because the previous Government did not prioritise young people that we saw a 40% decline in apprenticeship starts. I do not think that is an argument for the status quo; it is an argument for change. That is the slogan upon which we were elected, and it is change to the system that we will bring.
Assessment & feedback
The Secretary of State did not provide specifics about conversations with businesses or how changes will be implemented.
Criticising Previous Government
Response accuracy
Q12 Partial Answer
Rebecca Smith Con
South West Devon
Context
Apprenticeship figures show a significant reduction in apprenticeship vacancies and adverts since the Labour Government took office.
The latest figures show apprenticeship vacancies and adverts have significantly decreased since the Labour Government took office. Apprenticeship adverts have fallen by 27% and the number of vacancies has fallen by 22%. How can the Secretary of State make the promise of a youth guarantee with this alarming reduction in the number of available apprenticeships?
Precisely because we are tilting the funding more towards youth apprenticeship starts, we will arrest the decline that happened when the hon. Lady's party were in power. Change needs to come to the system if we want to do that, and I believe it is the right choice. The effect on young people who come off education and go on to benefits can be lifelong, so it is right that we prioritise them in the system.
Assessment & feedback
The Secretary of State did not provide specific details on how the reduction in apprenticeship vacancies will be addressed.
Criticising Previous Government
Response accuracy