Youth Provision: Universal and Targeted Support Debate
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Sarah Dyke
Main Page: Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat - Glastonbury and Somerton)Department Debates - View all Sarah Dyke's debates with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
Youth Provision: Universal and Targeted Support
Sarah Dyke Excerpts(1 day, 16 hours ago)
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Harpreet Uppal
My hon. Friend is absolutely correct, and I will come on to mental health.
Fourteen years of Conservative Governments have resulted in a £1.2 billion real-terms reduction in local authority spending on youth services in England since 2010.
Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton) (LD)
I thank the hon. Member for securing this really important debate. She is making a powerful introduction. The Street Foyer YMCA in my constituency provides excellent support for a lot of young people, many of whom come from challenging backgrounds and circumstances, but the local authority faces severe financial difficulties. Somerset council can spend only £13.47 per head on young people in Somerset. Does the hon. Member agree that it is crucial that we address the broken local government funding model if we are to improve youth service provision?
Harpreet Uppal
I thank the hon. Member for her point. I am sure the Minister heard what she said.
Kirklees council, which covers my constituency of Huddersfield, has seen a 70% decrease in funding in the 14 years that I mentioned. That leaves just £47.76 per young person spent on youth services in our community.