House of Commons – Jan. 28, 2026 – 423

Question put (Standing Order No. 31(2)), That the original words stand part of the Question. Amendment: I beg to move an amendment, to leave out from “House” to end and insert: “welcomes the Government’s commitment to invest in young people’s futures;

notes that the UK has the second highest youth employment rate in the G7;

recognises that the Government announced more than £1.5 billion of investment over the next three years, consisting of £820 million of funding for the Youth Guarantee to support young people to earn or learn, and £725 million for the Growth and Skills Levy;

further welcomes that the expanded Youth Guarantee will reach almost 900,000 young people, including through Youth Hubs in every area in Great Britain and a new Youth Guarantee Gateway;

further notes that this investment will also create around 300,000 more opportunities to gain workplace experience and training;

and further recognises that, as part of the Youth Guarantee, the Government is breaking the cycle of unemployment by guaranteeing paid work to around 55,000 young people aged 18 to 21 who have been on Universal Credit and looking for work for 18 months.” Original words: I beg to move, That this House regrets that both youth unemployment and the numbers of young people not in education, employment or training are rising as a result of the Government’s policies, such as increasing the rate of employer’s National Insurance contributions, reducing business rates relief for 2025-26 for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses, and passing the Employment Rights Act 2025;

notes that these policies have heavily impacted the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors where young people often have their first job;

further regrets that the Government’s inability to reform the welfare system will mean that young people struggling to find work are more likely to become trapped in welfare benefits dependency;

and calls on the Government to back business, scrap business rates for pubs and high street shops, and back job opportunities for young people.