Hospitality businesses have committed to providing over 100,000 jobs for 18 to 24-year-old young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) by the end of the Parliament. These opportunities will be funded and delivered by participating employers and may include recruitment through employers' existing hiring routes, referrals from Jobcentres, opportunities supported by the Youth Guarantee Jobs Grant, and opportunities delivered through the Jobs Guarantee.

Participating employers will also support the Department's work experience programme by offering two to four weeks of hands-on experience, dedicated workplace support and interview experience. Employers providing placements will meet the costs associated with the placement, including uniforms and induction, and will provide ongoing support through a dedicated workplace buddy. Work experience placements will be delivered through existing budgets, with eligible participants continuing to receive Universal Credit during placements and able to access support with travel and childcare costs where appropriate. These opportunities will be available across Great Britain and delivered according to participating employers' locations, workforce requirements and recruitment needs.

Alongside these opportunities, the Department is working with UKHospitality and Mayoral Strategic Authorities to expand access to the Hospitality Skills Passport through approved colleges and training providers, funded through the Adult Skills Fund. Through this partnership, young people will be able to access paid employment opportunities, work experience and training that help them develop the skills and experience employers are looking for. The partnership aims to support progression into sustained employment, apprenticeships and further training, including through industry-recognised qualifications such as the Hospitality Skills Passport.

With around one million young people not in education, employment and training, this Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. The government is investing an additional £2.5 billion by 2029 into the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy, supporting almost one million young people and creating up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn.

Young people in Basildon will benefit from the full breadth of Youth Guarantee support, including earlier intensive support in Jobcentres through a new Youth Guarantee Gateway, alongside additional work experience and training opportunities. We are also supporting employers to create more opportunities for young people, including through a £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant and £2,000 apprenticeship hiring payment. For eligible long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds we will provide a fully funded six-month job.

We are also expanding Youth Hubs to more than 360 areas across Great Britain, ensuring every young person aged 16-24, including those not claiming benefits, has access to opportunities and tailored support in their local area. A core service blueprint will guarantee high-quality, holistic support including mental health, housing, essential and vocational skills, and employer engagement at every Youth Hub.

The Basildon Youth Hub opened on 30^th September 2026 at Signpost Unit 48, The Unity Centre, 86 Eastgate Centre, Basildon, SS14 1AF, providing young people locally with a route into employment support and opportunities.

As set out by the Secretary of State in her oral statement of 7 September, the government has withdrawn the March 2026 decisions for Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, and paused decisions for the other 14 areas while a full review of the local government reorganisation programme is conducted. We recognise the need for clarity and will set out next steps as soon as possible. We also recognise that areas will have committed resources to reorganisation and ministers will consider this matter alongside the review.

As set out by the Secretary of State in her oral statement of 7 September, the government has withdrawn the March 2026 decisions for Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, and paused decisions for the other 14 areas while a full review of the local government reorganisation programme is conducted. We recognise the need for clarity and will set out next steps as soon as possible. We also recognise that areas will have committed resources to reorganisation and ministers will consider this matter alongside the review.

I refer the Hon. Member to the Secretary of State’s oral statement of 7 September 2026. The government has withdrawn the March 2026 decision for Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock and is undertaking a full review of the local government reorganisation programme. We recognise the need for clarity and will set out next steps as soon as possible.

I refer the Hon. Member to the Secretary of State’s oral statement of 7 September 2026. The government has withdrawn the March 2026 decision for Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock and is undertaking a full review of the local government reorganisation programme. We recognise the need for clarity and will set out next steps as soon as possible.

The decision to intervene in respect of the emerging Basildon Local Plan was made on 21 July 2026 and was based on assessments made against the statutory test and relevant intervention criteria, as outlined in the intervention letter which can be found on gov.uk here.

Basildon Borough Council (the Council) was given an opportunity to set out by 4 August 2026 any exceptional circumstances which in their view suggested that intervention is not appropriate.

The Council was directed to submit the emerging plan by the 31 December 2026 deadline for legacy plans.

The intervention letter makes clear that after full consideration of representations received at the Regulation 19 consultation, should significant modifications be required, these should be set out to the Secretary of State.

The Council is required to report monthly to my Department on the progress made against the directions and will be monitored against the milestones outlined in the updated Local Development Scheme (LDS).

The decision to intervene in respect of the emerging Basildon Local Plan was made on 21 July 2026 and was based on assessments made against the statutory test and relevant intervention criteria, as outlined in the intervention letter which can be found on gov.uk here.

Basildon Borough Council (the Council) was given an opportunity to set out by 4 August 2026 any exceptional circumstances which in their view suggested that intervention is not appropriate.

The Council was directed to submit the emerging plan by the 31 December 2026 deadline for legacy plans.

The intervention letter makes clear that after full consideration of representations received at the Regulation 19 consultation, should significant modifications be required, these should be set out to the Secretary of State.

The Council is required to report monthly to my Department on the progress made against the directions and will be monitored against the milestones outlined in the updated Local Development Scheme (LDS).

My Department had no discussions with the former or current administrations of Basildon Borough Council before the decision was made on 21 July 2026 to intervene in respect of the emerging Basildon Local Plan.

The current administration was given an opportunity to set out by 4 August 2026 any exceptional circumstances which in their view suggested that intervention is not appropriate.

Officials in my Department engage regularly with local planning authorities in England, including with Basildon Borough Council’s planning officers, in relation to the progress of local plans.

My Department had no discussions with the former or current administrations of Basildon Borough Council before the decision was made on 21 July 2026 to intervene in respect of the emerging Basildon Local Plan.

The current administration was given an opportunity to set out by 4 August 2026 any exceptional circumstances which in their view suggested that intervention is not appropriate.

Officials in my Department engage regularly with local planning authorities in England, including with Basildon Borough Council’s planning officers, in relation to the progress of local plans.

The decision to intervene in respect of the emerging Basildon Local Plan was made on 21 July 2026 and was based on assessments made against the statutory test and relevant intervention criteria, as outlined in the intervention letter which can be found on gov.uk here.

Basildon Borough Council (the Council) was given an opportunity to set out by 4 August 2026 any exceptional circumstances which in their view suggested that intervention is not appropriate.

The Council was directed to submit the emerging plan by the 31 December 2026 deadline for legacy plans.

The intervention letter makes clear that after full consideration of representations received at the Regulation 19 consultation, should significant modifications be required, these should be set out to the Secretary of State.

The Council is required to report monthly to my Department on the progress made against the directions and will be monitored against the milestones outlined in the updated Local Development Scheme (LDS).

The decision to intervene in respect of the emerging Basildon Local Plan was made on 21 July 2026 and was based on assessments made against the statutory test and relevant intervention criteria, as outlined in the intervention letter which can be found on gov.uk here.

Basildon Borough Council (the Council) was given an opportunity to set out by 4 August 2026 any exceptional circumstances which in their view suggested that intervention is not appropriate.

The Council was directed to submit the emerging plan by the 31 December 2026 deadline for legacy plans.

The intervention letter makes clear that after full consideration of representations received at the Regulation 19 consultation, should significant modifications be required, these should be set out to the Secretary of State.

The Council is required to report monthly to my Department on the progress made against the directions and will be monitored against the milestones outlined in the updated Local Development Scheme (LDS).

The decision to intervene in respect of the emerging Basildon Local Plan was made on 21 July 2026 and was based on assessments made against the statutory test and relevant intervention criteria, as outlined in the intervention letter which can be found on gov.uk here.

Basildon Borough Council (the Council) was given an opportunity to set out by 4 August 2026 any exceptional circumstances which in their view suggested that intervention is not appropriate.

The Council was directed to submit the emerging plan by the 31 December 2026 deadline for legacy plans.

The intervention letter makes clear that after full consideration of representations received at the Regulation 19 consultation, should significant modifications be required, these should be set out to the Secretary of State.

The Council is required to report monthly to my Department on the progress made against the directions and will be monitored against the milestones outlined in the updated Local Development Scheme (LDS).

The decision to intervene in respect of the emerging Basildon Local Plan was made on 21 July 2026 and was based on assessments made against the statutory test and relevant intervention criteria, as outlined in the intervention letter which can be found on gov.uk here.

Basildon Borough Council (the Council) was given an opportunity to set out by 4 August 2026 any exceptional circumstances which in their view suggested that intervention is not appropriate.

The Council was directed to submit the emerging plan by the 31 December 2026 deadline for legacy plans.

The intervention letter makes clear that after full consideration of representations received at the Regulation 19 consultation, should significant modifications be required, these should be set out to the Secretary of State.

The Council is required to report monthly to my Department on the progress made against the directions and will be monitored against the milestones outlined in the updated Local Development Scheme (LDS).

The decision to intervene in respect of the emerging Basildon Local Plan was made on 21 July 2026 and was based on assessments made against the statutory test and relevant intervention criteria, as outlined in the intervention letter which can be found on gov.uk here.

Basildon Borough Council (the Council) was given an opportunity to set out by 4 August 2026 any exceptional circumstances which in their view suggested that intervention is not appropriate.

The Council was directed to submit the emerging plan by the 31 December 2026 deadline for legacy plans.

The intervention letter makes clear that after full consideration of representations received at the Regulation 19 consultation, should significant modifications be required, these should be set out to the Secretary of State.

The Council is required to report monthly to my Department on the progress made against the directions and will be monitored against the milestones outlined in the updated Local Development Scheme (LDS).

The decision to intervene in respect of the emerging Basildon Local Plan was made on 21 July 2026 and was based on assessments made against the statutory test and relevant intervention criteria, as outlined in the intervention letter which can be found on gov.uk here.

Basildon Borough Council (the Council) was given an opportunity to set out by 4 August 2026 any exceptional circumstances which in their view suggested that intervention is not appropriate.

The Council was directed to submit the emerging plan by the 31 December 2026 deadline for legacy plans.

The intervention letter makes clear that after full consideration of representations received at the Regulation 19 consultation, should significant modifications be required, these should be set out to the Secretary of State.

The Council is required to report monthly to my Department on the progress made against the directions and will be monitored against the milestones outlined in the updated Local Development Scheme (LDS).