Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with local authorities on tackling youth unemployment in South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency.

The forthcoming Youth Guarantee is testament to our commitment to do more to help young people achieve their potential and how we intend to maximise the role of as wide a range of local partners as possible in helping us to achieve this goal.

Recent examples of positive collaboration in South Basildon and East Thurrock include strong support for and active signposting of young people to Basildon local authority’s recent Apprenticeship Day; and hub-based support for young care leavers in Basildon delivered collaboratively by Local Authority support workers and Jobcentre Plus Work Coaches.