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Youth Services

Asked by Harpreet UppalLabourDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled Answered 12 March 2025UIN 35985

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many local authorities have not fulfilled their statutory duty to provide recreational leisure-time activities for young people; and what steps the Government are taking to support those local authorities.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock

The Government does not hold the data requested. Local authorities fund youth services from their Local Government Settlement in line with local need, and this was increased to more than £69 billion in 2025/26 - a 6.8% increase in cash terms compared to 2024/25.

Additionally, we will be launching the Local Youth Transformation pilot this year, which will support local authorities to build back capability to improve local youth offers. We will share more information in due course.

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