Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of 11–18-year-olds in Sheffield currently have access to regular out of school activities, adventures away from home and opportunities to volunteer, in accordance with the goal set out in the National Youth Guarantee.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

This Government fully recognises the importance of youth services to help young people live safe and healthy lives, and we are committed to giving all young people the chance to reach their full potential. That is why this Government has launched the co-production of an ambitious new National Youth Strategy, which will be co-produced together with young people at the centre.

The DCMS Youth Participation Pilot Survey found that in the previous year, for young people aged 10-19 in Yorkshire and the Humber, 67% reported they had taken part in out of school activities (compared to 66% nationally), 39% reported they had been on an overnight stay (compared to 40% nationally), and 45% reported they had volunteered (compared to 44% nationally).

We do not hold the broken down data requested for Sheffield.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the finding in the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report UK Poverty 2024: The essential guide to understanding poverty in the UK, published on 23 January, that of all entrants into first class undergraduate degrees in 2021–22, "just one per cent had a parent who was long-term unemployed or had never worked"; and what steps they are taking to reduce this educational attainment gap.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)

The department will support the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to university, regardless of their background, where they live and their personal circumstances.

Too many people across our country do not get the chance to succeed. The department will act to address the persistent gaps for different student groups and to break down the barriers to opportunity. Opportunity should be available to all and it is the department’s aspiration that no groups are left behind.

The data cited in the Joseph Rowntree report is sobering. The department’s data shows that the progression rate to higher education (HE) for pupils who received free school meals at age 15 fell for the first time in nearly two decades, falling from 29.2% in the 2021/22 academic year to 29% in 2022/23.

The department expects universities to strengthen efforts to improve access and outcomes for disadvantaged students. There are already many examples of great practice throughout the sector which show a real commitment to social justice. These include targeting outreach support to those who are least likely to enter HE and working with local colleges to develop study pathways. However, the department wants HE providers to play a stronger role in expanding access and improving outcomes for disadvantaged students, making sure they are delivering strong and ambitious access and participation plans.

As part of this, the department is exploring how it can best support disadvantaged pupils at every stage of the student journey, from prior attainment to access, progression and outcomes. The department will consider the right level of transparency for students, the support available for different groups and ensure that providers commit to, and are held to account for, an ambitious approach to access and participation.

For the 2025/26 academic year, the department will be increasing loans for living costs by 3.1%. This approach ensures that the most support is targeted at students from the lowest income families, while keeping the student finance system financially sustainable.

The government continues to provide means-tested non-repayable grants to low-income students with children and/or adults who are financially dependent on them.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the Official Development Assistance budget for 2025–26 is spent on development overseas rather than on in-donor refugee support expenses.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK has always reported ODA spending consistent with internationally agreed OECD Development Assistance Committee rules. This includes certain support for refugees arriving from developing countries. The Home Secretary is committed to ensuring that asylum costs fall and has already acted, taking measures to reduce the asylum backlog, reform the asylum accommodation system to end the use of expensive accommodation, and increase detention capacity to facilitate more asylum removals. We expect these decisions to drive down in-donor refugee costs, creating more space in the ODA budget to spend on our international development priorities overseas. On current forecasts, ODA spending outside of in-donor refugee costs in 2025 will be more than the £11.0bn spent in 2023.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address unsustainable international debt, as set out in the Labour Party Manifesto 2024.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

Tackling unsustainable debt is one of the Government’s key international priorities. As a member of the Paris Club and G20, the UK is committed to providing debt treatments through the Paris Club and the G20 Common Framework, for countries that need it. The UK continues to work with our international partners to push for more timely, orderly and predictable restructurings.

We are also committed to tackling the underlying drivers of unsustainable debt, including through enhancing debt sustainability and transparency. The UK is a strong advocate of the G20 Operational Guidelines for Sustainable Financing – we have committed to adhering to these guidelines and call on other countries to do the same.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to alleviate fuel poverty this winter, including (1) support for local government, and (2) community-led initiatives.

Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

There are multiple targeted schemes in place to deliver energy efficiency measures to low income and fuel poor households. Current schemes include the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, the Home Upgrade Grant, the Energy Company Obligation and the Great British Insulation Scheme. Between them they help social housing providers, local authorities, charities, homeowners and private and social tenants with domestic energy efficiency measures.

The Warm Home Discount schemes also provide a £150 rebate off bills to eligible low-income households across Great Britain. Through Industry Initiatives suppliers can provide further assistance through third parties such as fuel poverty charities and organisations.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of potentially expanding the new Youth Guarantee to include 16 to 17-year-olds and 21 to 24-year-olds.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Youth Guarantee will initially provide support to 18–21-year-olds to ensure young people not accessing higher or further education have a clear pathway to access quality support.

Across the UK, 18 to 21-year-olds have lower employment rates compared to 22 to 24-year-olds, even when taking into consideration their increased participation in full-time education.

DWP provides extensive support at a national and local level for 16–17-year-olds and 22–24-year-olds. This includes flexible provision driven by local need, nationwide employment programmes and support delivered by work coaches based in our Jobcentres and in local communities working alongside partners. These young people will also be able to access tailored support through the DWP Youth Offer, which includes the Youth Employment Programme, Youth Employability Coaches and access to Youth Hubs across Great Britain.

We will continue to monitor the need to expand the Youth Guarantee during the delivery phase and through future evaluation.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what partnerships they plan to establish with local government to deliver the new Youth Guarantee outlined in the Get Britain Working White Paper (CP 1191).

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Get Britain Working White Paper identified a lack of accountability for support that joins up the various education, training and employment opportunities available to 18-21 year olds.

As a first step, the Get Britain Working White paper announced £45m funding for eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazers in England. Our partnerships with local government will test one of the key objectives of the Youth Guarantee that ensures better connections through local systems, of knowledge and awareness of resource and services in local areas, to ensure all 18-21 year olds have easy access to a wide range of education, training or employment opportunities.

By working closely on the detail of the design and delivery of the Youth Guarantee with the eight trailblazer areas, we will be able to maximise the difference it makes to young people’s lives locally. The findings of the trailblazers will inform future approach.

We will also work in partnership with organisations at the national and local level to join up, enhance and champion their efforts as part of our new Youth Guarantee. Our first partnerships will be developed with Channel 4, the Royal Shakespeare Company and leading sports organisations including the Premier League.​

Found: Letter dated 08/01/2025 from Baroness Smith of Malvern to the Lord Bishop of Sheffield regarding access