Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Department is taking to reduce youth economic inactivity in Hexham constituency.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government is investing in young people’s futures. At the Budget, we announced more than £1.5 billion of investment over the next three years, funding £820 million for the Youth Guarantee to support young people to earn or learn, and an additional £725 million for the Growth and Skills Levy.
Through the expanded Youth Guarantee, young people aged 16-24 across Great Britain are set to benefit from further support into employment and learning, including:
Support to find a job: through a new Youth Guarantee Gateway, which over the next three years will offer nearly 900,000 16–24-year-olds a dedicated session, followed by four weeks of additional intensive support with a Work Coach
Further expansion of Youth Hubs: We are expanding our network of Youth Hubs to over 360 locations so that all young people – including those not on benefits – can access opportunities and wider support in every local area of Great Britain
c300,000 additional opportunities for workplace experience and training
Guaranteeing jobs: For long-term unemployed 18–21-year-olds on Universal Credit, the Jobs Guarantee scheme will provide six months of paid employment.
In Hexham, there is a strong network of supportive employers who are providing work experience opportunities. This hands-on experience is invaluable for young people as they navigate their career paths.
There is also a well-established partnership with the Newcastle United Foundation (NUF) who is one of the biggest providers of training and skills in the area, running courses focused on employability, confidence building and teamwork.
In the North East and Northumberland, Jobcentres collaborate with local authorities, colleges, and partners to support young people through targeted programmes. These include Durham Works, helping 16–24-year-olds not in education, employment or training; the Pre-Employability Sports Programme, which builds essential skills through sports and workshops; and Club Elevate, supporting 16–25-year-olds in North Tyneside who face challenges such as poor mental health, substance misuse, or risk of anti-social behaviour.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Department is taking to reduce youth economic inactivity in the North East.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government is investing in young people’s futures. At the Budget, we announced more than £1.5 billion of investment over the next three years, funding £820 million for the Youth Guarantee to support young people to earn or learn, and an additional £725 million for the Growth and Skills Levy.
Through the expanded Youth Guarantee, young people aged 16-24 across Great Britain are set to benefit from further support into employment and learning, including:
Support to find a job: through a new Youth Guarantee Gateway, which over the next three years will offer nearly 900,000 16–24-year-olds a dedicated session, followed by four weeks of additional intensive support with a Work Coach
Further expansion of Youth Hubs: We are expanding our network of Youth Hubs to over 360 locations so that all young people – including those not on benefits – can access opportunities and wider support in every local area of Great Britain
c300,000 additional opportunities for workplace experience and training
Guaranteeing jobs: For long-term unemployed 18–21-year-olds on Universal Credit, the Jobs Guarantee scheme will provide six months of paid employment.
In Hexham, there is a strong network of supportive employers who are providing work experience opportunities. This hands-on experience is invaluable for young people as they navigate their career paths.
There is also a well-established partnership with the Newcastle United Foundation (NUF) who is one of the biggest providers of training and skills in the area, running courses focused on employability, confidence building and teamwork.
In the North East and Northumberland, Jobcentres collaborate with local authorities, colleges, and partners to support young people through targeted programmes. These include Durham Works, helping 16–24-year-olds not in education, employment or training; the Pre-Employability Sports Programme, which builds essential skills through sports and workshops; and Club Elevate, supporting 16–25-year-olds in North Tyneside who face challenges such as poor mental health, substance misuse, or risk of anti-social behaviour.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Department is taking to reduce youth economic inactivity in Northumberland.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government is investing in young people’s futures. At the Budget, we announced more than £1.5 billion of investment over the next three years, funding £820 million for the Youth Guarantee to support young people to earn or learn, and an additional £725 million for the Growth and Skills Levy.
Through the expanded Youth Guarantee, young people aged 16-24 across Great Britain are set to benefit from further support into employment and learning, including:
Support to find a job: through a new Youth Guarantee Gateway, which over the next three years will offer nearly 900,000 16–24-year-olds a dedicated session, followed by four weeks of additional intensive support with a Work Coach
Further expansion of Youth Hubs: We are expanding our network of Youth Hubs to over 360 locations so that all young people – including those not on benefits – can access opportunities and wider support in every local area of Great Britain
c300,000 additional opportunities for workplace experience and training
Guaranteeing jobs: For long-term unemployed 18–21-year-olds on Universal Credit, the Jobs Guarantee scheme will provide six months of paid employment.
In Hexham, there is a strong network of supportive employers who are providing work experience opportunities. This hands-on experience is invaluable for young people as they navigate their career paths.
There is also a well-established partnership with the Newcastle United Foundation (NUF) who is one of the biggest providers of training and skills in the area, running courses focused on employability, confidence building and teamwork.
In the North East and Northumberland, Jobcentres collaborate with local authorities, colleges, and partners to support young people through targeted programmes. These include Durham Works, helping 16–24-year-olds not in education, employment or training; the Pre-Employability Sports Programme, which builds essential skills through sports and workshops; and Club Elevate, supporting 16–25-year-olds in North Tyneside who face challenges such as poor mental health, substance misuse, or risk of anti-social behaviour.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment the Department has made of the level of energy-related cost pressures on low- income households in the North East as referenced in the Child Poverty Strategy.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The 2025 sub-regional fuel poverty statistics (using 2023 data) use the LILEE (Low Income, Low Energy Efficiency) metric to estimate fuel poverty for local areas. In 2023, 16,198 households were estimated to be in fuel poverty in the Northumberland local authority, representing 10.7% of households in this area. In 2023, 4,614 households were estimated to be in fuel poverty in the Hexham constituency, representing 10.8% of households in this area.
For the wider North East region, we refer to the 2025 fuel poverty statistics, which use the LILEE metric to estimate fuel poverty at regional level. In 2024, 123,000 households were fuel poor in the North East region, representing 10.1% of households in this region.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment the Department has made of the level of energy-related cost pressures on low- income households in Northumberland as referenced in the Child Poverty Strategy.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The 2025 sub-regional fuel poverty statistics (using 2023 data) use the LILEE (Low Income, Low Energy Efficiency) metric to estimate fuel poverty for local areas. In 2023, 16,198 households were estimated to be in fuel poverty in the Northumberland local authority, representing 10.7% of households in this area. In 2023, 4,614 households were estimated to be in fuel poverty in the Hexham constituency, representing 10.8% of households in this area.
For the wider North East region, we refer to the 2025 fuel poverty statistics, which use the LILEE metric to estimate fuel poverty at regional level. In 2024, 123,000 households were fuel poor in the North East region, representing 10.1% of households in this region.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment the Department has made of the level of energy-related cost pressures on low- income households in Hexham constituency as referenced in the Child Poverty Strategy.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The 2025 sub-regional fuel poverty statistics (using 2023 data) use the LILEE (Low Income, Low Energy Efficiency) metric to estimate fuel poverty for local areas. In 2023, 16,198 households were estimated to be in fuel poverty in the Northumberland local authority, representing 10.7% of households in this area. In 2023, 4,614 households were estimated to be in fuel poverty in the Hexham constituency, representing 10.8% of households in this area.
For the wider North East region, we refer to the 2025 fuel poverty statistics, which use the LILEE metric to estimate fuel poverty at regional level. In 2024, 123,000 households were fuel poor in the North East region, representing 10.1% of households in this region.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an estimate of the potential number of businesses in the Hexham constituency that may request support to improve their energy management practices.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In order to keep the level of reporting obligations on businesses to a minimum, DESNZ does not collect information detailing the uptake of energy management improvements by businesses.
Specific small business funding in Northumberland is available through North East Growth Hub, Business Northumberland and The Northumberland Small Business Service. Details are available at https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/business/grants-funding/grants-funding
Small businesses can search for other local grant and advice schemes on the finance and support for businesses page on gov.uk.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an estimate of the potential number of businesses in Northumberland that may request support to improve their energy management practices.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In order to keep the level of reporting obligations on businesses to a minimum, DESNZ does not collect information detailing the uptake of energy management improvements by businesses.
Specific small business funding in Northumberland is available through North East Growth Hub, Business Northumberland and The Northumberland Small Business Service. Details are available at https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/business/grants-funding/grants-funding
Small businesses can search for other local grant and advice schemes on the finance and support for businesses page on gov.uk.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an estimate of the potential number of businesses in the North East that may request support to improve their energy management practices.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In order to keep the level of reporting obligations on businesses to a minimum, DESNZ does not collect information detailing the uptake of energy management improvements by businesses.
Specific small business funding in Northumberland is available through North East Growth Hub, Business Northumberland and The Northumberland Small Business Service. Details are available at https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/business/grants-funding/grants-funding
Small businesses can search for other local grant and advice schemes on the finance and support for businesses page on gov.uk.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what data the Department holds on the expected uptake of family financial resilience programmes in Hexham constituency under the Child Poverty Strategy.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We do not hold data on the expected uptake of family financial resilience programmes in the North East region, including the Hexham and Northumberland constituencies under the Child Poverty Strategy.
The Strategy recognises the important role that financial resilience must play in supporting families in poverty. The new £1 billion (including Barnett consequential) Crisis and Resilience Fund, launching in April 2026, will invest in local financial resilience to enable communities to better deal with crises in the long-term, reducing dependence and repeat need.
Alongside this, the government is boosting financial resilience through helping low-income families to save, increasing debt advice provision and providing financial education and money management tools. The Government’s Financial Inclusion Strategy, published on 5 November 2025, brings together the foundations of financial resilience in support of the Child Poverty Strategy.