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Written question asked by John Milne (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 July 2026. It was answered by Josh MacAlister (Labour) on Saturday, 18 July 2026 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Young Carers: Education and Employment

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Government plans to add young carers to the data which local authorities must provide in relation to 'Participation in education, training and NEET' for 16 and 17 year olds.

Answer

Local authorities already have statutory duties to identify, track and support young people, including those not in education, employment or training (NEET). They collect characteristic data such as sex, ethnicity, special educational needs and young carer status.

We are implementing measures to reduce the number of young people who become NEET, building on the existing guarantee of a post-16 education place. This includes working with local authorities, strategic authorities, schools and further education (FE) providers to improve the identification, tracking and sharing of information on young people, while strengthening local oversight and accountability.

To support earlier intervention, we are investing in better data sharing, introducing new Risk of NEET indicator tools, and enhancing attendance monitoring in FE settings. These measures are intended to help identify at-risk young people sooner and provide timely support.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
18933
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Education Employment Local government Training Young carers
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk