Written questions by Morris.

What discussion his Department is having with relevant stakeholders to support small and medium businesses in providing apprenticeship schemes in rural areas.

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are important to the economy and to apprenticeships; they provide valuable opportunities for younger apprentices and apprentices from disadvantaged areas. The Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (AAN) is a group of nearly 2,500 employers and apprentices who volunteer to promote the benefits of the apprenticeship programme. It operates across all parts of England through nine regional networks. These networks provides buddying and mentoring support to small businesses to help them recruit and retain apprentices. The North-East Region of the AAN is actively engaging with SMEs across the region and is working closely with regional stakeholders to provide support to small businesses. In addition, through Skills England the government is simplifying the skills system and strengthening support for SMEs. Skills England provide the single, authoritative view of skills needs, working closely with employers, training providers and local leaders to ensure provision reflects real labour market demand. To ensure its work is shaped by real business experience, Skills England holds regular dialogue with the B5 group of major employer bodies, including the Federation of Small Businesses. It has a dedicated SME sponsor on its Board, and the Skills England executive team is committed to meeting SMEs across the country to ensure smaller firms have a permanent voice in the design of the skills system.

What discussions his Department has had with stakeholders on the availability of apprenticeship schemes for 16-24 year olds in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle and (d) the North East.

This government wants to rebalance the programme back towards young people beginning their careers. In August we introduced new foundation apprenticeships, which are jobs with training that give young people a route into careers in critical sectors, enabling them to earn a wage while developing vital skills. This new offer will help more young people learn high-quality skills at work and fuel innovation in businesses across the country, including in the North-East. The department recently ran a workshop with the North-East Combined Authority, exploring how employers and providers in the region could access foundation apprenticeships.

What steps his Department is taking to support SMEs to access skills funding in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle, (d) the North East and (e) England.

The government provides a range of financial support to help Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) in England access apprenticeships. To support non-levy paying employers, which are likely to be SMEs, to access apprenticeships, the government pays the full training costs for young apprentices aged 16-21, and for apprentices aged 22-24 who have an education, health and care (EHC) plan or have been in local authority care. For all other apprentices, employers that do not pay the levy are required to co-invest 5% towards apprentice training costs. For all employers, government also pays £1,000 to both employers and training providers for apprentices aged 16-18, or apprentices aged 19-24 who have an EHC plan or have been in local authority care. Employers also benefit from not being required to pay anything towards employees’ National Insurance for all apprentices aged up to age 25 where they earn less than £967 a week (£50,270 a year). In addition we are investing in education and skills training for adults through the Adult Skills Fund (ASF). The ASF fully funds or co-funds skills provision for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to level 3, to support adults to gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship or further learning. As of August 2025, 68% of the ASF is devolved to 12 Strategic Authorities and the Greater London Authority. These authorities are responsible for the provision of ASF-funded adult education for their residents and allocation of the ASF to learning providers. For learners in Hexham, Northumberland, and Newcastle, the North East Combined Authority (NECA) decides how to make best use of their ASF to meet their local needs beyond four statutory entitlements, including which courses are funded and the eligibility criteria. By honouring our commitments to combine and further devolve adult skills funding, we give those with local knowledge the power they need to make decisions that are best for their areas.

What steps the Department is taking to support young people into training in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle, (d) the North East and (e) England.

The Department of Work and Pensions Youth Offer provides individually tailored Work Coach support to young people aged 16 to 24 who are claiming Universal Credit. This support includes the Youth Employment Programme, Youth Employability Coaches for young people with additional barriers to finding work, and Youth Hubs across Great Britain. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced that the Youth Guarantee, currently being developed, will include a jobs guarantee, where every eligible young person who has been on Universal Credit for 18 months without earning or learning will be offered guaranteed paid work. Participants of the scheme will receive support to take advantage of available opportunities, with the aim of helping them transition into regular employment. Further details, including eligibility criteria and the structure of placements, will be confirmed at the Budget following further engagement including with employers and the Devolved Governments. In Hexham, there is a strong network of supportive employers who are providing work experience opportunities. This hands-on experience is invaluable for young people as they navigate their career paths. There is also a well-established partnership with the Newcastle United Foundation (NUF) who is one of the biggest providers of training and skills in the area, running courses focused on employability, confidence building and teamwork Young people are further encouraged to explore apprenticeship opportunities. With regular referrals to the National Careers Service for additional support and guidance, ensuring young people have access to the best advice and resources available. In Newcastle. As well as the NUF (as detailed above) work is ongoing with other partners who are delivering training such as Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service in partnership with The Kings Trust and YMCA. In the North East and Northumberland, Jobcentres collaborate with local authorities, colleges, and partners to support young people through targeted programmes. These include Durham Works, helping 16–24-year-olds not in education, employment or training; the Pre-Employability Sports Programme, which builds essential skills through sports and workshops; and Club Elevate, supporting 16–25-year-olds in North Tyneside who face challenges such as poor mental health, substance misuse, or risk of anti-social behaviour.

What steps her Department is taking to support the roll-out of youth hubs in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle, (d) the North East and (e) England.

We are expanding our network of Youth Hubs to over 200 locations across Great Britain within the next three years to provide more accessible and joined-up employment support for young people. This investment ensures that young claimants, particularly those on Universal Credit, can access tailored employment and skills services in their local communities. While employment and skills support remain central to the Youth Hubs offer, the expansion will also ensure a core minimum blueprint across all locations. This will connect young people to a wider range of services such as health, housing, and wellbeing support, based on local needs and partnerships. Hexham and Newcastle are already served by Youth Hubs. In Hexham, DWP works with the Northumberland Rural Employment Hub, which recently ran a successful session for 18–24-year-olds on job searching and CV building, with plans for future events. In Newcastle, the Newcastle United Foundation Youth Hub provides tailored employability support, including job fairs, mentoring, and access to DWP systems. It serves a wide area and works with partners to address skills and employment barriers. These hubs will continue to evolve and align with the Youth Hub blueprint, ensuring young people benefit from high-quality, locally tailored services. Across Northumberland and the North East, DWP is planning to expand Youth Hubs in areas of highest need over the next two years.

What discussions his Department has had with relevant stakeholders on the Crisis and Resilience Fund and rural areas.

My Department have actively engaged with stakeholders on design for the new Crisis and Resilience Fund through a structured co-design process. This has involved a representative group of local authorities —including a mix of urban and rural areas, third-party organisations and academics. The process culminated in a concluding event on 22 October 2025, attended by over 750 stakeholders.

What steps his Department is taking to support young people into employment in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle, (d) the North East and (e) England.

The Department of Work and Pensions Youth Offer provides individually tailored Work Coach support to young people aged 16 to 24 who are claiming Universal Credit. This support includes the Youth Employment Programme, Youth Employability Coaches for young people with additional barriers to finding work, and Youth Hubs across Great Britain. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced that the Youth Guarantee, currently being developed, will include a jobs guarantee, where every eligible young person who has been on Universal Credit for 18 months without earning or learning will be offered guaranteed paid work. Participants of the scheme will receive support to take advantage of available opportunities, with the aim of helping them transition into regular employment. Further details, including eligibility criteria and the structure of placements, will be confirmed at the Budget following further engagement including with employers and the Devolved Governments. In Hexham, there is a strong network of supportive employers who are providing work experience opportunities. This hands-on experience is invaluable for young people as they navigate their career paths. There is also a well-established partnership with the Newcastle United Foundation (NUF) who is one of the biggest providers of training and skills in the area, running courses focused on employability, confidence building and teamwork Young people are further encouraged to explore apprenticeship opportunities. With regular referrals to the National Careers Service for additional support and guidance, ensuring young people have access to the best advice and resources available. In Newcastle. As well as the NUF (as detailed above) work is ongoing with other partners who are delivering training such as Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service in partnership with The Kings Trust and YMCA. In the North East and Northumberland, Jobcentres collaborate with local authorities, colleges, and partners to support young people through targeted programmes. These include Durham Works, helping 16–24-year-olds not in education, employment or training; the Pre-Employability Sports Programme, which builds essential skills through sports and workshops; and Club Elevate, supporting 16–25-year-olds in North Tyneside who face challenges such as poor mental health, substance misuse, or risk of anti-social behaviour.