Oral Answers to Questions

Luke Myer Excerpts

Thursday 16th January 2025 Commons Chamber

[Chris Bryant]

I agree with every single thing the hon. Member said, and I will do as he urges.

[Luke Myer (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland) (Lab)]

4. What progress her Department has made on creating a national youth strategy.

[The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lisa Nandy)]

We have wasted no time in cracking on with the national youth strategy. We have almost finished recruiting to the youth advisory group and the expert advisory group, and I can tell the House that we have taken suggestions from Conservative Members and included a member of the uniformed youth groups on that youth advisory group, which will meet for the first time in late January or early February. My officials are reviewing the evidence base, which they will consider, and we are launching the strategy in the summer, with an interim report expected in the spring.

[Luke Myer]

My constituent Kylie is a teacher who works with excluded young people who have some excellent ideas about what we can do to address antisocial behaviour and improve youth provision. Can the Secretary of State provide an update on how the national youth strategy consultation will involve young people, so that we make sure that they are engaged in future policy decisions?

[Lisa Nandy]

We are absolutely determined to put young people back in charge of their destiny. They know better than we do the challenges that they face, and are often better at identifying the solutions. That is why we have put young people in charge of the strategy. We are co-producing it with them, and we will seek out a range of young people’s voices from every part of the country and every background as part of the process.