Oral Answers to Questions

Andrew Stephenson Excerpts

Wednesday 19th June 2013 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Stephenson (Pendle) (Con)]

4. What assessment he has made of the growth of the National Citizen Service.

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Mr Nick Hurd)]

The National Citizen Service is a fantastic opportunity for our young constituents to make a difference in the community and to develop really valuable skills. Demand is growing rapidly, so we are making 50,000 places available this year and 90,000 in 2014.

[Andrew Stephenson]

I frequently meet with the Challenge Network, which is the principal provider of the NCS in Pendle, and I am looking forward to taking part in a “Dragons’ Den” exercise with it later this year. Will my hon. Friend say what the outcomes are for young people who have so far taken part in the NCS programme?

[Mr Hurd]

I thank my hon. Friend for his positive engagement with the programme. As he would expect, we commissioned independent research on its impact, and it tells us that so far we are getting £2 of value for every £1 of public money we spend. The most significant impact has been on what might be called work-ready skills: in particular, helping young people to develop confidence and teamwork, leadership and communication skills, all of which are very important in the workplace.