Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Youth Hubs

Monday 12 October 2026 · 4 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 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister announced progress in expanding youth hubs across Great Britain, reaching a total of 160 hubs.
  • Minister invited to visit youth hub and Forth Valley college, and acknowledged the work of Powering Futures, a local training provider in Falkirk.
  • Minister agreed that youth hubs should meet young people where they are, rather than expecting them to come to traditional job centers.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Andrew Ranger
Local Government
Context

The establishment and support of youth hubs across Great Britain aimed at providing employment, skills, and support for young people.

Question

What steps is the Minister taking to help support the establishment of youth hubs? The Minister should outline the steps being taken to ensure the successful establishment and support of youth hubs.

Answer from Andrew Western

We are making strong progress expanding youth hubs across Great Britain, with delivery ahead of schedule, bringing the total number of youth hubs to 160. These hubs provide a single, community-based front door to joined-up employment, skills and wider support for young people. We continue to work closely with local authorities and partners to maintain momentum and support further expansion.

Answered
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Q2 Euan Stainbank
Employment Scotland
Context

In August, Falkirk became one of the first towns in Scotland to have a youth hub, highlighting the Labour Government's investment in young people's futures. The questioner seeks a visit and re-engagement with Powering Futures, a local training provider.

Question

Will the Minister join me on a visit to the youth hub and Forth Valley college, and will the Department re-engage with the Falkirk-based local training provider Powering Futures, whose model could deliver a preventive solution to youth unemployment but currently falls between the cracks of reserved and devolved competency?

Answer from Andrew Western

I thank my hon. Friend for his invitation and for highlighting the work of the Falkirk youth hub and its partners. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has met with Powering Futures and is aware of the issues that he raises. My hon. Friend has been relentless in seeking support for this organisation, and I hope that the Scottish Government will think again and consider supporting the good work of Powering Futures with funding.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not commit to a visit or re-engagement with Powering Futures directly but stated that the Secretary of State met with Powering Futures.

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Q3 Andrew Ranger
Benefits & Welfare Local Government
Context

Youth hubs aim to reach young people in their local communities rather than expecting them to come to traditional settings. The questioner suggests that youth hubs should reach out to young people in their communities.

Question

For many of our young people, the hardest step towards obtaining work is the first one: walking into a jobcentre or youth hub and asking for support. Does the Minister agree that part of the approach of youth hubs, including the new hub in Wrexham, must be to reach those young people where they are, rather than waiting for them to come through the door?

Answer from Andrew Western

My hon. Friend is right. The whole purpose of youth hubs is to take support out of traditional settings and into communities, meeting young people where they are rather than expecting them to come to us. Through partnerships with local authorities, charities, colleges and other organisations, youth hubs such as the upcoming Wrexham youth hub will help us reach young people in their local communities who might otherwise miss out on support. We will continue to encourage all youth hubs to undertake proactive outreach and work with local partners to reach young people. I have seen excellent examples of that in the hubs I have visited thus far.

Answered
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Q4 Ashley Fox
Taxation Employment
Context

The Government have increased the cost of employing young people and introduced additional regulation. The questioner argues that reducing the cost of employing young people is more effective in reducing youth unemployment than employment support schemes.

Question

Over the last two years, the Government have increased the cost of employing young people with higher national insurance charges on employers and imposed the 350 pages of additional regulation contained in their “unemployment rights Act”. Does the Minister agree that the best way of reducing youth unemployment is to cut the cost of employing young people rather than an endless array of hubs, grants, schemes and guarantees?

Answer from Andrew Western

I would agree with the hon. Gentleman, but then we would both be wrong. I attended a recent parliamentary event hosted by the Resolution Foundation, chaired by the former Tory Minister Lord Willetts, and the research it had undertaken was clear that cutting taxes was not as effective in delivering opportunities to get young people into work—[Interruption.] It was very clear that the targeting of employment support was much more effective than the approach the hon. Gentleman is suggesting. The shadow Secretary of State was there; she saw that. She may not have agreed with it—maybe that was because she did not stay until the end of the event—but none the less it was very clear that the best way to support young people into work is through employment support schemes, youth hubs and the routes that we are taking.

Not addressed: The Minister did not directly address the question but instead referred to a recent parliamentary event and its findings.

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