Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his department is taking in order to improve the adequacy of the relationship between the social security systems in England and Scotland, and in what way he plans to increase workforce participation amongst young people from lower socio economic backgrounds in Scotland.

DWP and Social Security Scotland have a close, ongoing working relationship built around supporting shared customers across two systems. DWP service delivery colleagues signpost claimants to Social Security Scotland for devolved benefits and both organisations collaborate through regular forums, joint working groups, and a dedicated DWP liaison unit to coordinate day-to-day activity. The agencies share information and data to support customers who receive benefits from both Governments and when someone moves from one jurisdiction to the other, the customer continues to receive the relevant benefit for up to 13 weeks from the date of move to provide time for them to make a new claim from either DWP or Social Security Scotland as appropriate.

With around one million young people not in education, employment and training, the UK Government is determined not to leave a generation behind. The UK government is investing an additional £2.5 billion by 2029 into the Youth Guarantee across Great Britain and the Growth and Skills Levy in England (with Barnett consequentials for the Scottish Government), supporting almost one million young people and creating up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn.

This includes the expansion of Youth Hubs to more than 360 locations across Great Britain by March 2029, earlier intensive support through the Youth Guarantee Gateway in which every young person on Universal Credit looking for work will receive tailored support from their first appointment in the Jobcentre and expanding access to opportunities that help young people move into work. This investment will create around 300,000 additional opportunities to gain workplace experience and training and help unlock up to 200,000 additional employment opportunities through the £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant, and the Jobs Guarantee scheme providing long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds with a fully funded six-month job. Phase One delivery of the Jobs Guarantee began in April 2026, aiming to deliver over 1,000 job starts across six areas with some of the highest need, including Central & East Scotland. National rollout of the scheme will be delivered in 25 areas across Great Britain, with delivery starting from November 2026.

These measures demonstrate the UK Government’s commitment to supporting employers, partners and young people across Great Britain. This expanded Youth Guarantee, alongside Scottish Government services, will ensure that no young person falls through the cracks and that every young person in Scotland and across Great Britain can access the support they need to achieve their potential.

We also recognise the crisis of participation that Alan Milburn has so clearly laid out in his interim report. We will use this interim report to continue to build our reforms and look forward to final recommendations in the Autumn.