Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top
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Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top Excerpts(1 month, 4 weeks ago)
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Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)
Where I can agree is that we want to create an economy where people feel confident to employ young people. I draw some figures and analysis to this House’s attention: under the last Government, between 2021 and 2024, the number of young NEETs increased by 250,000. I mention that because the noble Lord drew attention to measures that have happened subsequently, thus putting his analysis into question. Businesses are able to employ NICs reliefs for those under 21 and under-25 apprenticeships. I highlight those changes on NICs. Obviously, the NICs changes that came in last year do not apply to young people, so I do not accept the noble Lord’s analysis. I highlight to the House the measures we are taking to support young people and give them opportunities so that they get experience of work—employers mention that young people should have good experience of work in order to get their employability up.
Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top (Lab)
My Lords, all the analysis of NEETs shows that the resilience of young people is an absolutely critical aspect of getting them into the modern labour market and labour force and keeping them working. The previous Government stopped, through austerity, many of the early evidence-based programmes that would build the resilience and the ability of young people to continue through difficulties. Any young person today will have huge difficulties, and we therefore have to make sure that we have those early intervention programmes to build the resilience of young people.
Baroness Lloyd of Effra (Lab)
My noble friend is right to draw attention to the importance of many different contributors to the employability, ability and capabilities of young people. That is indeed around skills and training, which is why we are investing in further education and in matching skills with the modern industrial strategy, working with employers. It is also why we are paying attention to changes in provision on mental health and in early years, such as the expansion of free school meals, to provide all children with the best start in life.