Youth Provision: Universal and Targeted Support
Jas Athwal Excerpts(1 day, 15 hours ago)
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Harpreet Uppal
I am sure the Minister has heard what the hon. Lady has said. I am proud that the Government are developing a national youth strategy, which has not happened before.
Research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies found that the closure of youth clubs led to a 4% drop in GCSE performance at age 16, with even greater effects on pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. Worse still, the loss of youth services has been linked to a 14% increase in youth crime within six years of youth services closures.
Harpreet Uppal
I will take both interventions, but then I need to make a bit of progress before I take interventions from other Members.
Jas Athwal
I am pleased that my hon. Friend has secured this debate. Last week, I spoke about the importance of a holistic approach to preventing crime, and especially of providing young people with safe spaces. We have had 14 years of brutal cuts. The council I used to lead had a £1 billion budget, but now it is £800 million—£200 million has been cut from it. Despite those punishing cuts, it is still building the first lido to be built in London in decades, a swimming pool and a leisure centre. We must build infrastructure. Does my hon. Friend agree that the phrase “If you build it, they will come” should be at the forefront of everything we do?
Harpreet Uppal
I do agree. I will now take the intervention from the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Helen Maguire).