Oral Answers to Questions

Catherine Atkinson Excerpts

Monday 16th December 2024 Commons Chamber

[Chris Vince (Harlow) (Lab/Co-op)]

12. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the youth guarantee on young people in Harlow constituency.

[Catherine Atkinson (Derby North) (Lab)]

23. What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the youth guarantee on young people in Derby North constituency.

[The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Liz Kendall)]

Our new youth guarantee will ensure that every young person is earning or learning, tackling the scandal that we inherited of almost 1 million young people not in education, employment or training. Young people in Harlow, Derby North and across the country deserve the opportunity to work, get skills and build a better life, and that is what this Labour Government will deliver.

[Liz Kendall]

I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. That is why we are going to give new powers, responsibilities and funding to local areas to deliver our youth guarantee. They know their communities best. They know the voluntary organisations, schools, training providers and businesses, and the mental health and other support that many young people need. In Harlow, I know that that approach will be key to giving young people the opportunities that my hon. Friend wants and that they deserve.

[Catherine Atkinson]

Mel was out of work and homeless, but YMCA Derbyshire saw only her potential, not her disadvantage. Now, she is at Toyota and on track for a leadership role. Its working assets programme has a 70% success rate in supporting homeless young people into employment. How will the youth guarantee help the Government join up with, enhance and champion local programmes like that?

[Liz Kendall]

That sounds like a fantastic programme by the YMCA in my hon. Friend’s constituency. That is precisely why we need to join up with what local colleges are doing, with the support provided by local councils and with supported employment programmes run by the NHS. If we join that up and base it on local needs, her young constituent and many others like her will get the chance they need and deserve to build a better life.