National Trust Acts
Debate between Baroness Young of Old Scone and Baroness Twycross
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
As my noble friend Lady Thornton behind me said, we will support the National Trust. It is important to remember that it is the biggest conservation charity in Europe; the coastline in Wales has been mentioned, and I think that every Member of your Lordships’ House will have their favourite National Trust building and their favourite walk on National Trust land. By working together and with charities such as the National Trust, we will ensure that everybody has access to nature.
Baroness Young of Old Scone (Lab)
Does the Minister agree that the National Trust is doing precisely what we should all be doing by focusing its remit on biodiversity and climate change in its rural spaces, and that its new strategy is therefore an admirable and forward-looking thing?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
Clearly, it is up to the National Trust and its members what the content of the strategy is. However, I agree with my noble friend on the important points she raised.
National Youth Strategy
Debate between Baroness Young of Old Scone and Baroness Twycross
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
On the initial point of not taking lessons from His Majesty’s Opposition, I think it is fair to say that, on this side, we have been quite impressed by how quickly they have developed amnesia about the last 14 years.
The National Citizen Service provided 1 million young people with opportunities, and in 2024-25 it received £52 million in government funding. We believe that, if we develop an overarching government strategy on youth, we will allow more young people and children to access activities that will enrich their lives and help them build their future. That is why the report that will emerge from the consultation will be entitled, “Today’s Youth, Tomorrow’s Nation”. These people are our future and it is really important that we target the funding we have to the absolute maximum.
Baroness Young of Old Scone (Lab)
My Lords, could the Minister give her view on the importance of local authorities in this strategy? My experience at local level is that they can be a hugely powerful linchpin in the network of local services and engagement opportunities for young people. They really bring it to where they are, engaging with schools, youth services and sporting opportunities. Can the Minister give us a feel for how local authorities will figure in this strategy, and how they will be consulted in its formation?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
Local authorities are an absolutely key partner in the development of any strategy. From my perspective, one of the key things is to look at how their youth funding has fallen over the previous 14 years. Local authorities’ youth funding in England fell by 73% under the previous Government. This Government have started to help restore that funding, but there is a correlation—I have been told it is not a causation but a correlation—between areas where funding for youth centres has been cut, and rises in anti-social behaviour.