Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how the £500 million allocated to the National Youth Strategy will be profiled over the spending period; and what steps she is taking to ensure the funding is spent equitably across regions.

Youth Matters will be focussed on ensuring young people have someone who cares, something to do and somewhere to go. The majority of our funding will be targeted to underserved areas who need it most. We are committed to working with areas of greatest need across the length and breadth of England. Following ongoing feedback and engagement with front line delivery organisations and young people, we are looking to merge our major youth funds and establish a much more straightforward funding system for youth through one interface, focusing on providing opportunities to young people when and where they need them.