Young People: NEET

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean Excerpts

Tuesday 29th November 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Freud]

My Lords, we are tackling this in a serious way. It is a very complicated issue, but the trick is to understand what has to be done to help youngsters. Only four things help youngsters: educational qualifications, apprenticeships, a job or work experience. We are trying to boost those elements massively in our youth contract.

[Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean]

My Lords, the Minister will have heard it said this morning that applications from young people to be students at university next year have fallen by 16 per cent. He has just mentioned the importance of qualifications for young people. Can he tell us why he thinks those applications have fallen by 16 per cent?

[Lord Freud]

My Lords, one effect of increased fees at universities is that youngsters realise the relative attraction of apprenticeships.