Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of career advice and work experience services provided to young people by local authorities.

Local authorities do not have direct responsibility for providing careers advice and work experience to young people. Responsibility was devolved to schools in 2012, when they were given a legal duty to secure independent careers guidance for years 8-13 pupils. Statutory guidance underpins this duty and makes clear that schools should offer work placements, work experience and other employer-based activities as part of their careers programme.

The Government has established The Careers & Enterprise Company to improve opportunities for young people to learn about the world of work. There are now 2,019 Enterprise Advisers appointed in the Company’s Enterprise Adviser Network, connecting with just under 2,000 schools and colleges to improve young people’s, careers and enterprise strategies and engagement with employers.

Local councils continue to play an important role in supporting young people to participate in education or training. They ensure that 16 and 17 year olds have agreed post-16 plans and have received an offer of a suitable place in post-16 education or training under the ‘September Guarantee’, and that they are assisted to take up a place. Schools work closely with local councils to identify those at risk of not participating post-16.

We will publish a careers strategy this year, with a clear focus on social mobility. We have worked with a number of external partners, including the Local Government Association, to examine best practice and develop proposals to improve the quality and coverage of careers guidance.