Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to support young people with SEND into work.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is taking action to support disabled young people and those with long-term health conditions into work, including young people with Special Educational Needs (SEND). Pathways to Work and the Youth Guarantee will provide disabled young people and young people with long-term health conditions tailored support that meets their needs, helping them to move into and stay in work.

Backed by £1 billion a year of new funding by the end of the decade, Pathways to Work is building towards a guaranteed offer of personalised work, health and skills support for all disabled people and those with health conditions on out of work benefits. Some Pathways to Work support is available irrespective of benefit entitlement.

Through Pathways to Work, disabled young people have access to tailored support, including help into supported employment through Connect to Work. Our Local Economic Inactivity and Youth Guarantee Trailblazers are also offering targeted support for disabled young people.

We know supported internships break down barriers to opportunity for disabled young people. Our recent investment has increased numbers and improved programme quality, supporting more young people to transition into employment. We are providing £9 million to continue our supported internship pilot reaching hundreds more young people without an Education, Health and Care plan, to support them into sustained employment.

Finally, the Access to Work Scheme can also provide grant funding to disabled young people. Access to Work is a demand-led, personalised discretionary grant which supports workplace adjustments that go beyond what would normally be expected from an employer through their duty to provide reasonable adjustments as outlined in the Equality Act 2010.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what support she will provide to parents and carers ahead of the implementation of the social media ban for under 16 year-olds.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)

The government recognises the vital role that parents and carers play in supporting children's online safety. Alongside the social media ban, the government will provide a package of support for parents and carers.

This includes an expanded media literacy campaign and Kids Online Safety Hub, providing advice, practical tools and support to help parents and carers support their children in navigating the online world safely and confidently.

We will also work closely with the Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care as they develop guidance on the safe and positive use of devices for parents of children aged 5 to 18.

Found: Voluntary, charity and social enterprise Employer North East, Cumbria and South West Scotland Alice Macdonald