Oral Answers to Questions Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Department for Education

Oral Answers to Questions

Karl Turner Excerpts
Monday 20th April 2026

(1 day, 11 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Watch Debate Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Josh MacAlister Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Josh MacAlister)
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

The Conservatives’ legacy of almost 1 million young people being out of work and education is shameful, but we are cleaning up this mess. I am delighted to share with the House that we are introducing a new deal for young people that includes a £2,000 grant for small to medium-sized enterprises taking on 16 to 24-year-olds to work and a new £3,000 youth job grant for hiring apprentices aged 18 to 24 who have been on universal credit for more than six months. We are the Labour party, which means we are about getting young people into work.

Karl Turner Portrait Karl Turner (Kingston upon Hull East) (Ind)
- View Speech - Hansard - -

Whistleblowers have raised serious concerns with me about the governance of academy trusts in my constituency. I have raised this matter privately with the Secretary of State, but I wonder whether she might arrange for a Minister to meet those whistleblowers so that they can have those concerns taken seriously, as I am seriously concerned myself.

Bridget Phillipson Portrait Bridget Phillipson
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising that issue. I would, of course, be happy to ensure that a meeting takes place so that that information can be shared and fully considered. Through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we are also bringing forward further accountability when it comes to trusts to ensure that there is an inspection framework around them. Perhaps I could discuss that further with the hon. Gentleman, too.