Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on reducing the number of young people not in employment, education or training in a) Newport West and Islwyn constituency and b) South Wales.

The Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. The Government is investing an additional £2.5 billion over the next three years into the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy. This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn, including through expanded network of Youth Hubs, earlier intensive support in Jobs Centres through a new Youth Guarantee Gateway, additional work experience and training opportunities, a £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant and £2,000 apprenticeship hiring payment for employers, and a fully funded six month job for long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is working closely with the Welsh Government to support young people into employment, education and training across Wales, including in Newport West and Islwyn and the wider South Wales region.

DWP and Welsh Government policy officials meet on a regular basis to discuss young people policy, focusing on action to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET). In addition, senior policy officials from both organisations met in person on 31 March 2026 in Cardiff to focus specifically on youth outcomes and reducing the NEET rate. Lots of work has also been undertaken recently to build meaningful relationships to cover all areas of Wales, including working across both governments Youth Agendas.

The DWP Wales teams work closely with the Welsh Government and partners, with ongoing collaboration to coordinate activity and share best practice at a local level, including for Newport West and Islwyn and the wider South Wales region. DWP and Welsh Government are also working closely together on their respective future Employability Provision.