Youth Unemployment

Frank McNally Excerpts

Tuesday 17th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Pat McFadden]

My hon. Friend is right that we have tried to put extra incentives in this package for small and medium-sized businesses. In particular, there is the hiring bonus for young apprentices, which is aimed at both young people and small businesses. I hope that will be of help to the small businesses in her constituency. She is also right that clarity of information is important. Schemes like this can be complex, so I want to work with officials to make the information about this one, and the administration of it, as clear and simple as possible—consistent, of course, with the need to properly use and protect public money.

[Frank McNally (Coatbridge and Bellshill) (Lab)]

It was a pleasure to join my right hon. Friend at Bellshill jobcentre last year to hear about the need to support young people who are not in education, training or work. I greatly welcome this announcement, which will help transform life opportunities. Businesses in my constituency across a range of sectors highlight that despite their willingness to train the next generation of workers, intentions are often undermined by the failing apprenticeship system in Scotland. Can my right hon. Friend expand on how the positive actions of this Government will support young people in Scotland who have sadly and tragically been left behind by the SNP?