Asked by: Claire Young (Liberal Democrat - Thornbury and Yate)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will publish the analysis of costs and benefits that informed her Department's conclusion that the solar canopies on car parks policy would not be taken forward at this point.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government currently has no plans to publish this analysis. Given high upfront costs coupled with the uncertainty about future electricity prices and self-consumption of electricity generated, there is a significant risk that businesses would be unable to recover installation costs over the assumed 30-year lifetime of solar panels. Mandating on new car parks also overlaps with the Future Buildings Standard which includes generation within the curtilage of the building.
Asked by: Claire Young (Liberal Democrat - Thornbury and Yate)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has discussions with the Secretary of State for Education on increasing the availability of university undergraduate level qualifications in youth work.
Answered by Vicky Foxcroft - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Investing in youth services and youth work has a strong social benefit leading to decreased crime, improved health and increased employment for young people.
In the Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy we set out our commitment to developing and growing a skilled and sustainable paid and volunteer youth sector workforce. To achieve this, we are investing £15 million over the next 3 years in youth workers, volunteers, and other trusted adults to upskill the existing youth sector workforce and increase the number of trusted adults providing safe support to young people.
DCMS funds the National Youth Agency (NYA) to oversee professional standards, qualifications and workforce development for the sector. To ensure a sufficiently qualified and supported youth sector workforce, DCMS funding enables the NYA to maintain youth work qualifications, national standards and curriculum; conduct a youth work organisation census; and maintain a register of qualified youth workers.
The NYA is also leading reforms to youth work qualifications through the development of a new Standard Qualification Framework for Youth Work, due for launch in the autumn. These reforms will create more flexible and accessible routes into youth work, strengthen progression and access from Levels 1 to 6, including enhanced Level 3 more flexible entry pathways and routes into higher-level and degree-level qualifications.
To help remove financial barriers for individuals, particularly those from underrepresented groups, to gain accredited qualifications, DCMS is also continuing to fund the Youth Worker Bursary Fund during this financial year. Since 2019, DCMS has funded 4071 individuals to undertake a Level 2, 3 or 4 qualifications in youth work with 850 enrolled in courses due to complete by 2027.
DCMS does not hold empirical data to provide assured information on where those leaving youth work end up. The NYA collects limited workforce intelligence through its Youth Workforce Census and stakeholder engagement activities, although this does not provide comprehensive data on destinations for those leaving the profession.
Asked by: Claire Young (Liberal Democrat - Thornbury and Yate)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the levels of social benefit obtained from investing in youth work provision.
Answered by Vicky Foxcroft - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Investing in youth services and youth work has a strong social benefit leading to decreased crime, improved health and increased employment for young people.
In the Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy we set out our commitment to developing and growing a skilled and sustainable paid and volunteer youth sector workforce. To achieve this, we are investing £15 million over the next 3 years in youth workers, volunteers, and other trusted adults to upskill the existing youth sector workforce and increase the number of trusted adults providing safe support to young people.
DCMS funds the National Youth Agency (NYA) to oversee professional standards, qualifications and workforce development for the sector. To ensure a sufficiently qualified and supported youth sector workforce, DCMS funding enables the NYA to maintain youth work qualifications, national standards and curriculum; conduct a youth work organisation census; and maintain a register of qualified youth workers.
The NYA is also leading reforms to youth work qualifications through the development of a new Standard Qualification Framework for Youth Work, due for launch in the autumn. These reforms will create more flexible and accessible routes into youth work, strengthen progression and access from Levels 1 to 6, including enhanced Level 3 more flexible entry pathways and routes into higher-level and degree-level qualifications.
To help remove financial barriers for individuals, particularly those from underrepresented groups, to gain accredited qualifications, DCMS is also continuing to fund the Youth Worker Bursary Fund during this financial year. Since 2019, DCMS has funded 4071 individuals to undertake a Level 2, 3 or 4 qualifications in youth work with 850 enrolled in courses due to complete by 2027.
DCMS does not hold empirical data to provide assured information on where those leaving youth work end up. The NYA collects limited workforce intelligence through its Youth Workforce Census and stakeholder engagement activities, although this does not provide comprehensive data on destinations for those leaving the profession.
Asked by: Claire Young (Liberal Democrat - Thornbury and Yate)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how rurality is taken into account when allocating funding for youth work.
Answered by Vicky Foxcroft - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Investing in youth services and youth work has a strong social benefit leading to decreased crime, improved health and increased employment for young people.
In the Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy we set out our commitment to developing and growing a skilled and sustainable paid and volunteer youth sector workforce. To achieve this, we are investing £15 million over the next 3 years in youth workers, volunteers, and other trusted adults to upskill the existing youth sector workforce and increase the number of trusted adults providing safe support to young people.
DCMS funds the National Youth Agency (NYA) to oversee professional standards, qualifications and workforce development for the sector. To ensure a sufficiently qualified and supported youth sector workforce, DCMS funding enables the NYA to maintain youth work qualifications, national standards and curriculum; conduct a youth work organisation census; and maintain a register of qualified youth workers.
The NYA is also leading reforms to youth work qualifications through the development of a new Standard Qualification Framework for Youth Work, due for launch in the autumn. These reforms will create more flexible and accessible routes into youth work, strengthen progression and access from Levels 1 to 6, including enhanced Level 3 more flexible entry pathways and routes into higher-level and degree-level qualifications.
To help remove financial barriers for individuals, particularly those from underrepresented groups, to gain accredited qualifications, DCMS is also continuing to fund the Youth Worker Bursary Fund during this financial year. Since 2019, DCMS has funded 4071 individuals to undertake a Level 2, 3 or 4 qualifications in youth work with 850 enrolled in courses due to complete by 2027.
DCMS does not hold empirical data to provide assured information on where those leaving youth work end up. The NYA collects limited workforce intelligence through its Youth Workforce Census and stakeholder engagement activities, although this does not provide comprehensive data on destinations for those leaving the profession.
Asked by: Claire Young (Liberal Democrat - Thornbury and Yate)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether her Department considered the potential merits of mandating partial installation of solar canopies on existing outdoor car parks above a specified number of spaces.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government did not consider the potential merits of mandating partial installation of solar canopies on existing outdoor car parks above a specified number of spaces. The installation of solar canopies on existing car parks is associated with increased costs and disruption. Existing car parks may not have accounted for this capital expenditure in their business plans, so the additional upfront costs may impact business viability.
Asked by: Claire Young (Liberal Democrat - Thornbury and Yate)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to increase the provision and accessibility of post-16 technical education pathways.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Our post 16 reforms aim to widen participation through clearer pathways, including new V Levels, the expansion of T Levels, clearer Level 2 routes through Occupational and Foundation Certificates, and new level 1 16-19 English and maths qualifications. We also announced £87 million in exceptional in-year growth payments, to help support the level of demographic growth we have seen in the 2025/26 academic year.
T Levels continue to deliver strong outcomes for learners. In 2026, the overall pass rate was 92.6%, with 68.9% of students achieving a merit or above. We are making changes to T Levels content and assessment to support manageability and scale up and new rules for industry placements give providers and employers more scope to design innovative placements.
When designing these new pathways, we are placing a strong emphasis on inclusion. We are considering the needs of learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), those at risk of becoming NEET, and others who face barriers to participation, to ensure they are inclusive and accessible by design.
Asked by: Claire Young (Liberal Democrat - Thornbury and Yate)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of fully transitioning older renewable projects away from Renewable Obligation Certificates and on to Contracts for Difference.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The existing Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme has been successful in bringing forward new renewable generation at fixed, competitive prices. CfDs are already helping to reduce consumers’ exposure to gas price volatility.
The Government has announced plans to develop a voluntary Wholesale Contract for Difference (WCfD) for eligible legacy low-carbon generators whose revenues remain exposed to wholesale electricity prices. Under this current proposal, generators accredited under the Renewables Obligation (RO) would continue to receive RO support, with only their wholesale electricity revenues being exchanged for a fixed-price CfD. We are engaging with industry on detailed policy options, and plan to consult later this year, however, note that contracts will only being offered where they deliver clear value for money for the consumer.
Asked by: Claire Young (Liberal Democrat - Thornbury and Yate)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of opening up business energy data on forecasting, carbon reporting and decarbonisation in non-domestic buildings.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the importance of energy data in managing energy use and planning the deployment of energy savings measures. There is significant existing reporting for non-domestic buildings, much of which is already publicly available, including Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting and the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme.
Central government organisations report their energy consumption through the Greening Government Commitments. HM Treasury set mandatory requirements on central government annual reports and accounts aligned with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure recommendations. This guidance can also be used by the wider public sector.
Asked by: Claire Young (Liberal Democrat - Thornbury and Yate)
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 develop the skills and apprenticeships required to support new jobs in the nuclear sector.
Answered by Andrew Western - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Skills England are currently working closely with employers and other stakeholders from across the nuclear sector to revise and update some of these standards, to ensure that they meet the current and future skills needs of the sector and can be delivered effectively.
This includes cross-sector work to address key shortages, such as introducing a new mechanised welding apprenticeship unit to support major projects like Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C.
Asked by: Claire Young (Liberal Democrat - Thornbury and Yate)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to remove the renewable obligation levy.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Since 1 April this year, 75% of the domestic costs of the Renewables Obligation (RO) have been funded by the Exchequer. This shifts the balance from levies on bills to public spending, resulting in an average £150 reduction in energy costs. Over three years, £7 billion worth of RO levies will be funded through public expenditure, providing short-term relief and greater long-term benefits for consumers.
DBT have also introduced the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme which aims to exempt over 10,000 manufacturing businesses from various levies, including the RO, with the aim of cutting industrial electricity bills by up to 25%.