The Youth Guarantee aims to increase opportunities for 16-24-year-olds to make them work-ready and equipped to thrive. Success will be measured by improvement in employment outcomes, reduction in economic inactivity, and an increase in participation in education and training.

Evidence for the effectiveness of expanded Jobcentre support is primarily derived from the DWP Youth Offer Process Evaluation, which was published in October 2024. It found generally positive outcomes, with most participants reporting tailored and useful support; findings have since informed improvements to delivery, mental health referrals, and efforts to address local service gaps and barriers. We will monitor these outcomes nationally for all Youth Guarantee participants. This will build on already commissioned evaluation of eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazers and a planned full process evaluation of the Jobs Guarantee, the first phase of which is now underway. Evaluation plans for the Youth Jobs Grant and the Youth Hub expansion are also being developed.

The new Jobcentre support is based on these findings and offers young people on Universal Credit and looking for work tailored employment support and a structured path into a job, apprenticeship, work experience, SWAP, learning or training from their first appointment in the Jobcentre.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 109581 on 3 February 2026.

The Government recognises that there are currently limited treatment options available for people who have been diagnosed with cancerous brain tumours, such as glioblastoma, and the significant impact that this rare cancer can have on the outcomes and experiences of care.

The Department has recently updated guidance that advises anyone considering a procedure abroad to carefully research treatment, including treatment for glioblastoma, the qualifications of their clinician, and the regulations that apply in any specific country.

In February 2026, the Department published the National Cancer Plan for England which sets out how patients with rare cancers, including glioblastoma, will benefit from a move to specialist multi-disciplinary teams which cover multiple healthcare providers. This will allow them to benefit from the input of specialist centres and access to the best evidence-based care. To accelerate breakthroughs, the Government will explore innovative procurement methods, such as advance market commitments, to stimulate the development of new diagnostic tests, targeted therapies, and more effective treatments for rare cancers, such as brain tumours.

Additionally, in January 2026, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) announced increased investment of over £25 million in the NIHR Brain Tumour Research Consortium. The world-leading consortium aims to transform outcomes for adults and children and their families who are living with brain tumours, ultimately reducing lives lost to cancer. In addition to speeding up diagnosis and treatment, the work being undertaken by the consortium aims to ensure that patients have access to the latest treatments and technology and to clinical trials. This will make a significant contribution to bringing the United Kingdom’s cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world.

The Government recognises that there are currently limited treatment options available for people who have been diagnosed with cancerous brain tumours, such as glioblastoma, and the significant impact that this rare cancer can have on the outcomes and experiences of care.

The Department has recently updated guidance that advises anyone considering a procedure abroad to carefully research treatment, including treatment for glioblastoma, the qualifications of their clinician, and the regulations that apply in any specific country.

In February 2026, the Department published the National Cancer Plan for England which sets out how patients with rare cancers, including glioblastoma, will benefit from a move to specialist multi-disciplinary teams which cover multiple healthcare providers. This will allow them to benefit from the input of specialist centres and access to the best evidence-based care. To accelerate breakthroughs, the Government will explore innovative procurement methods, such as advance market commitments, to stimulate the development of new diagnostic tests, targeted therapies, and more effective treatments for rare cancers, such as brain tumours.

Additionally, in January 2026, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) announced increased investment of over £25 million in the NIHR Brain Tumour Research Consortium. The world-leading consortium aims to transform outcomes for adults and children and their families who are living with brain tumours, ultimately reducing lives lost to cancer. In addition to speeding up diagnosis and treatment, the work being undertaken by the consortium aims to ensure that patients have access to the latest treatments and technology and to clinical trials. This will make a significant contribution to bringing the United Kingdom’s cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world.

With over one million young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), the Government is committed to ensuring every young person can earn or learn through the Youth Guarantee. Backed by £2.5 billion over the next three years, the Youth Guarantee will reach nearly one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn.

The Cardiff Youth Guarantee Jobs Fair, hosted on 15 May 2026, forms part of a series of Youth Guarantee Jobs and Careers Fairs the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is organising, in partnership with Mayoral Strategic Authorities and local areas, across Great Britain in 2026.

The Youth Guarantee Jobs and Careers Fairs aim to support young people, particularly those who are NEET or at risk of becoming NEET, to explore opportunities across different sectors, access advice and training, and engage directly with employers.

The Cardiff Jobs and Careers Fair was attended by around 2000 people, 29 employers, and 18 partners, including support services and colleges. So far in 2026, the DWP has also delivered fairs in Blackpool, Glasgow and London.

Further Youth Guarantee Jobs and Careers Fairs are planned in Brighton, Leeds, Bristol, Birmingham, Nottingham and Norfolk.

The way people across the UK use retail banking services has changed significantly, with many customers now choosing to bank online. In response, banks and building societies have reshaped their branch networks, reflecting changing customer preferences.

However, the Government understands the importance of banking services to communities and high streets and is committed to supporting the financial services industry’s roll-out of 350 banking hubs by the end of this Parliament. Banking hubs are a voluntary service which were developed by the financial services sector in the context of legislation to protect access to cash under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023.

Over 275 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 235 are already open. The Government continues to engage with industry on ways to improve the consistency and level of services provided through banking hubs.

The Government recognises that some communities have experienced the loss of their last local bank branch and the importance of ensuring continued access to banking services.

On 14 May the Government commissioned an independent Review into Access to Banking Services to assess whether changes in access to in-person banking services are causing consumer detriment, the scale of any detriment, and who it affects.

The evidence collected by the Review will inform future decisions on whether further action is needed. Alongside the Review, the Financial Services and Markets Bill includes a power to allow the Government to take action in future to protect access to banking services, should this be necessary. This power ensures the Government can act swiftly and proportionately, including through future regulation, if the evidence from the Review supports intervention.

The way people across the UK use retail banking services has changed significantly, with many customers now choosing to bank online. In response, banks and building societies have reshaped their branch networks, reflecting changing customer preferences.

However, the Government understands the importance of banking services to communities and high streets and is committed to supporting the financial services industry’s roll-out of 350 banking hubs by the end of this Parliament. Banking hubs are a voluntary service which were developed by the financial services sector in the context of legislation to protect access to cash under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023.

Over 275 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 235 are already open. The Government continues to engage with industry on ways to improve the consistency and level of services provided through banking hubs.

The Government recognises that some communities have experienced the loss of their last local bank branch and the importance of ensuring continued access to banking services.

On 14 May the Government commissioned an independent Review into Access to Banking Services to assess whether changes in access to in-person banking services are causing consumer detriment, the scale of any detriment, and who it affects.

The evidence collected by the Review will inform future decisions on whether further action is needed. Alongside the Review, the Financial Services and Markets Bill includes a power to allow the Government to take action in future to protect access to banking services, should this be necessary. This power ensures the Government can act swiftly and proportionately, including through future regulation, if the evidence from the Review supports intervention.

The Department has not made a specific assessment of the extent of barriers to recruitment for glioblastoma clinical trials. However, the Government recognises that patients with rare cancers can face particular challenges in accessing research opportunities.

The National Cancer Plan for England sets out the Government’s ambition to deliver world class cancer care through world class research, including by making it easier for patients with rare cancers to find and take part in relevant clinical trials. It makes rare cancers a research priority, backed by increased spending on rarer cancer research, with commitments to incentivise inclusion of rare cancers in future trials of multi-cancer early detection tests.

Additionally, the Government is implementing the Rare Cancers Act 2026 that will make it easier for clinical trials on rare cancers to take place in England, by ensuring the patient population can be more easily contacted by researchers and that a National Specialty Lead for Rare Cancers is appointed in the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research Delivery Network.

The NIHR also provides an online service called Be Part of Research which promotes participation in health and care research, by allowing users to search for relevant studies and register their interest. The service is available at the following link:

https://bepartofresearch.nihr.ac.uk/

The Department is committed to turbocharging clinical research and delivering better patient care, to make the United Kingdom a world-leading destination for clinical research, including clinical trials on glioblastoma.

Higher education (HE) providers are independent, and as such the government is not involved in negotiations regarding workforce issues. Nevertheless, we recognise the detrimental impact that marking and assessment boycotts can have on students and therefore urge all parties to work together towards a fair, reasonable, and sustainable resolution that minimises disruption.

The government continues to engage regularly with the sector, unions and employer bodies to better understand the issues affecting HE providers.

Higher education (HE) providers are independent, and as such the government is not involved in negotiations regarding workforce issues. Nevertheless, we recognise the detrimental impact that marking and assessment boycotts can have on students and therefore urge all parties to work together towards a fair, reasonable, and sustainable resolution that minimises disruption.

The government continues to engage regularly with the sector, unions and employer bodies to better understand the issues affecting HE providers.

Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) allocations by financial year are available at the following:

• 2026/27 financial year: https://skillsfunding.service.gov.uk/view-latest-funding/national-funding-allocations/DSG/2026-to-2027.
• 2025/26 financial year: https://skillsfunding.service.gov.uk/view-latest-funding/national-funding-allocations/DSG/2025-to-2026.
• 2024/25 financial year: https://skillsfunding.service.gov.uk/view-latest-funding/national-funding-allocations/DSG/2024-to-2025.
• 2023/24financial year: https://skillsfunding.service.gov.uk/view-latest-funding/national-funding-allocations/DSG/2023-to-2024.
• 2022/23 financial year: https://skillsfunding.service.gov.uk/view-latest-funding/national-funding-allocations/DSG/2022-to-2023.
• 2021/22financial year: https://skillsfunding.service.gov.uk/view-latest-funding/national-funding-allocations/DSG/2021-to-2022.

The total High Needs Block allocation for each local authority can be found in the ‘Allocations_summary’ sheet, in the column ‘High needs block (£s)’.

The allocations for 2026/27 are subject to further updates later this year.

The NHS modernisation Bill will clarify and strengthen accountability in the NHS. It ends the fragmented accountability that we inherited on coming into government, and the reforms will restore clear democratic accountability, with the Secretary of State directly accountable to Parliament and the public. We will enhance local autonomy, ensuring NHS organisations are good partners and deliver for their local populations.

The Government will bring forward legislation through the Clean Water Bill, announced in the King’s Speech on 13 May, to deliver major reforms to the water system.

Public health will be at the heart of these reforms, alongside measures to strengthen regulation, improve water quality and tackle pollution at source, as set out in the Water White Paper.

Targeted engagement is already taking place with stakeholders across the water sector to support policy development.

We will publish an interim update on the Modern Service Framework (MSF) for Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care shortly. The final MSF will be published this autumn.

The MSF will provide a clinically-led, evidence-based framework to support sustained improvement in patient and carer outcomes, including reducing both inequality and unwarranted variation. Areas of action will be identified for those commissioning and delivering services, with associated performance and outcome metrics to support system accountability. The MSF will seek to embed palliative care and end-of-life care within a strategic commissioning model that is centred on population need.

We have been engaging with a range of stakeholders, from approximately 70 organisations, to inform the MSF’s development, including the Ambitions Partnership. We are also undertaking engagement with integrated care systems through National Health Service regional teams. We have also been working closely with teams leading on the other MSFs, to ensure that they align with each other.

Following the publication of the interim update, Department and NHS England officials will continue to engage closely with stakeholders on the development of the final MSF.

The Government recognises the important role dental educational supervisors play in supporting newly qualified dentists.

Dental Foundation Training is supported through payments to eligible practices, including the trainers grant for educational supervision. The Department keeps these payments under review as part of the annual pay review process.

In Summer 2025, the Department ran a full public consultation on our proposed reforms to the dental contract. The consultation ran for six weeks and received almost 2,300 responses, including from those working in the dental sector, from professional bodies and charities. The Government response to the consultation was published in December and provides a summary of the results of the consultation. The response is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/nhs-dentistry-contract-quality-and-payment-reforms/outcome/government-response-to-consultation-on-nhs-dentistry-contract-quality-and-payment-reforms#introduction

NHS England and the Office of the Chief Dental Officer have also engaged with the dental sector to support the implementation of these reforms, including through webinars, bulletins, and contract guidance. Clinical guidance will be published shortly.

We have engaged with key stakeholders throughout the process of developing these reforms, including through regular meetings with the British Dental Association.

The regulations introducing the first phase of these reforms came into force on 1 April, and the remainder of the reforms, including the introduction of complex care pathways, will be implemented from June 2026. These reforms will prioritise those with the greatest need, shifting care away from clinically unnecessary check-ups.

We remain committed to delivering further, fundamental reform of the dental contract before the end of this Parliament. Discussions with key stakeholders have continued ahead of any further proposed amendments to the dental contract.

Following a 40% drop in apprenticeship starts over the previous decade, we are now seeing them rise for those under 25, and achievement rates are also up. We want an extra 50,000 young people to benefit from apprenticeships. That is why we are introducing new grants for small and medium-sized businesses to take on apprentices, and why we have introduced new foundation apprenticeships.

The Government will provide £11 million per annum at steady state, to increase the number of new dental school places by 50 each year. This is the first sustained expansion of domestic dental training places since 2007 and will take effect from the 2027/28 academic year.

The Minister of State for Skills and I have written to the Chair of the Office for Students (OfS) to increase the maximum fundable limit for dental school places in England from 809 to 859 places. The OfS has statutory responsibility for allocating funding for dental school places. The Minister of State for Skills and I have asked that the OfS focuses the expansion on new dental schools approved by the General Dental Council, but which do not currently receive government funding for places.