Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Employment Support: Young People

Monday 12 October 2026 · 11 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 8 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The government has announced an additional 2.5 billion to create up to 500,000 opportunities for young people to earn and learn.
  • The youth guarantee aims to provide inclusive opportunities for young people, including those with special educational needs.
  • The Secretary of State is willing to visit and congratulate Derwentside college on its efforts, if given the opportunity.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Luke Murphy
Employment
Context

The questioner is concerned about the employment prospects of young people and the steps the government is taking to address this issue.

Question

What steps he is taking to support young people into employment. The government has announced an additional £2.5 billion, as part of the youth guarantee, to create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn over the next few years. The youth guarantee aims to provide opportunities for young people to enter the job market and gain experience.

Answer from Pat McFadden

We have announced an additional £2.5 billion, as part of the youth guarantee, to create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn over the next few years, and we have begun to roll this out across Great Britain. The gateway to the youth guarantee is available in jobcentres. We are expanding youth hubs, we have launched the £3,000 youth jobs grant, and we are rolling out the jobs guarantee for young people who are long-term unemployed.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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Q2 Danny Beales
Employment Children & Families
Context

The questioner highlights the employment gap experienced by young people with special educational needs and asks about the government's steps to ensure inclusivity in job hubs and the youth guarantee.

Question

What steps are the Government taking to ensure that the job hubs, and the youth guarantee offer more broadly, are inclusive of young people with SEND and that they also see the benefits. The questioner is asking about the steps being taken to ensure that young people with special educational needs can access job opportunities and the youth guarantee.

Answer from Pat McFadden

We need to end the culture of “signed off and written off”, and we want all young people, including those with special educational needs, to benefit from the youth guarantee. That is why youth hubs work closely with our work coaches and disability employment advisers, as well as local partners.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not specify concrete actions or commitments to ensure inclusivity for young people with SEND.

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Q3 Liz Twist Lab Blaydon
Context

The questioner visited Derwentside college in her constituency and witnessed the college's efforts in linking to employers and offering qualifications that lead to real employment opportunities.

Question

Will the Secretary of State join me in congratulating the college on the work it does, and will he join me on a visit to see that incredible work in practice. The questioner seeks to have the Secretary of State join her in congratulating Derwentside college for its efforts and to visit the college.

Answer from Pat McFadden

I am very happy to echo my hon. Friend's congratulations to Derwentside college on all the work it is doing. With regard to a visit, I will do the best I can. I know that she is a passionate advocate for the college, and if I get an opportunity to visit, I most certainly will.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not commit to a specific visit but expresses willingness.

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Q4 Maureen Burke
Employment
Context

The questioner discusses the issue of young people on benefits and the need for investment in young people's success instead of creating a lifetime of dependency.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree with me that we need to invest in young people's success rather than leave them to languish on benefits. The questioner argues that investing in young people's success can prevent a lifetime of dependency and highlights the Prime Minister's statement about the importance of technical education.

Answer from Pat McFadden

Yes, I do agree with my hon. Friend. She is absolutely right to say that we need to invest in opportunity and success, and she has spoken admirably about her own life experiences in this House. As I have said, we are putting forward an additional £2.5 billion of investment in the youth guarantee and the growth and skills levy.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide specific details on how the government is investing in young people's success.

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Q5 Luke Murphy
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The questioner mentions youth hubs such as the one based in Inclusion Education in Basingstoke and asks about their role in delivering the youth guarantee.

Question

Could the Secretary of State say a bit more about how youth hubs are helping to deliver the youth guarantee so that young people can realise their potential. The questioner seeks information on the role of youth hubs in delivering the youth guarantee and invites the Secretary of State to visit Basingstoke youth hub.

Answer from Pat McFadden

Youth hubs are a crucial part of the youth guarantee. They bring together employment and skills, with wider support that often involves housing and health advice. They are an important feature of the Dutch system, where the NEET rate is one third of ours. We are expanding the network to over 360 locations across Great Britain, and the whole idea is to get the help that a jobcentre can provide out of the jobcentre and into the community.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not commit to a visit to Basingstoke youth hub but provides information on the role of youth hubs.

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Q6 Rebecca Smith
Employment
Context

Skills England is consulting on axing the small commercial vessel crewmember level 3 apprenticeship.

Question

I recently visited Portugal where a young man who drove our safety boat had done his apprenticeship at SeaRegs in Plymouth. However, this apprenticeship is now under threat of being scrapped by Skills England despite its value to young people in coastal communities and its role in supporting national defence. Will the Secretary of State stop this apprenticeship from being scrapped?

Answer from Pat McFadden

Skills England will consider accreditation and has heard the representations made about the apprenticeship. The focus is on youth apprenticeship starts and ensuring the most opportunity to change lives.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly commit to stopping the scrapping of the apprenticeship

How: Will Consider Accreditation

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Q7 Caroline Voaden
Employment
Context

Marine businesses in South Devon are struggling to find crew and the apprenticeship for commercial vessels is now under threat.

Question

Last week I visited marine businesses in South Devon that are struggling to find crew. The funding for commercial vessel apprenticeships is now threatened, potentially closing the route for young people to enter the sector and find permanent employment. Will the Secretary of State commit to continue the funding for these apprenticeships?

Answer from Pat McFadden

Skills England will always look at the range of courses available and will consider accreditation. The representation made by the hon. Member has been heard.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to continuing the funding

How: Will Consider Accreditation

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Q8 Mark Pritchard Con The Wrekin
Employment
Context

Youth unemployment in rural areas such as Shropshire has risen by 27.8% in the last 12 months.

Question

In The Wrekin, youth unemployment has risen by 27.8% in the last 12 months. Many of the schemes to get young people back into work are in urban areas. What will the Secretary of State do for young constituents in rural and semi-rural counties like Shropshire?

Answer from Pat McFadden

There are 243,000 more people in work than at this time last year. The employment rate in the UK is higher today than in all but one of the 14 years when his party was in power. Economic inactivity is down by 367,000 since the last election.

Not addressed: Did not address the specific issue of youth unemployment in rural areas

How: Employment Rate Higher Than In 14 Years

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Q9 Ann Davies
Wales Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

The Plaid Cymru Government will pilot the Cynnal payment for children in households receiving universal credit.

Question

If we want to support young people into employment, we must address barriers they face. One barrier is child poverty. The Plaid Cymru Government will pilot the Cynnal payment, which will be disregarded for benefit purposes. Will the Secretary of State confirm that the £10 a week payment for children in households receiving universal credit will be disregarded for benefit purposes?

Answer from Pat McFadden

The two-child limit has been abolished. This, together with other elements in the child poverty strategy, is estimated to bring down child poverty by about half a million over the course of this Parliament.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm if the payment will be disregarded for benefit purposes

How: Abolished The Two-Child Limit

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Q10 Helen Whately Con Faversham and Mid Kent
Taxation Employment Foreign Affairs Benefits & Welfare
Context

Labour Members line up to give the welfare Secretary a chance to make it look like he is doing something about the youth unemployment crisis.

Question

Every DWP Question Time, Labour Members line up to give the welfare Secretary a chance to make it look like he is doing something about the youth unemployment crisis. Under the Labour Government, the number of young people not in employment, education or training went up by a quarter of a million in the two years before the last election. We will halve national insurance for 21 to 24-year-olds. Will the Secretary of State get the Chancellor to use his Budget to do the same?

Answer from Pat McFadden

Under the Labour Government, the number of young people not in employment, education or training went up by a quarter of a million in the two years before the last election. The employment rate in the UK today is higher than in every year but one of the Conservatives' 14 years in power. The UK had the fastest growing economy in the G7 in the first half of this year.

Not addressed: Did not address the specific ask about halving national insurance for young people

How: Employment Rate Higher Than In 14 Years

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Q11 Steve Darling
Employment
Context

The Government recently announced funding for apprenticeships through areas where there are elected mayors, but almost half of England does not have an elected mayor.

Question

The Government recently announced funding for apprenticeships through areas where there are elected mayors. However, almost half of England does not have an elected mayor. Will the Secretary of State acknowledge that young people in communities such as Torbay, and across Devon and Cornwall, will feel that the Government have turned their backs on them?

Answer from Pat McFadden

The hon. Member is right to say that the devolution map in England is uneven. We believe that locally delivered services in employment support can break down the departmental barriers that have too often dogged getting the right help to people at the right time. Delivering more services locally can help us do that.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly acknowledge the concern about young people feeling ignored

How: Uneven Devolution Map, Locally Delivered Services

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