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The House of Lords Liaison Committee has published its sixth report of the 2019–21 session, in which it recommends to the House a proposal for a new special inquiry committee in 2021.

• Report: New special inquiry committee on youth unemployment (HTML)
• Report: New special inquiry committee on youth unemployment (PDF)
• Liaison Committee

The Committee recommends a committee to consider youth unemployment, education and skills. A cross-cutting inquiry could focus on the genesis of youth unemployment and associated medium to long-term outcomes. A special inquiry of this nature could examine the following:

• The causes and risks associated with high levels of youth unemployment and how these might be addressed.
• Under-employment and insecure employment amongst young people and the associated challenges and risks (financial insecurity, exploitation, limited career progression).
• Whether the national curriculum effectively meets the current and anticipated future needs of the labour market and society and if not, how this might be addressed.
• The societal trend of prioritising the A-level/University route, the consequences for the labour market and society and what steps may be taken to address this.
• The funding and support provided for technical education, including apprenticeships, sector-based skills programmes and the national skills fund.
• The challenges posed by COVID-19 and Brexit to the employment prospects for young people and how these might be addressed.
• The challenges posed by COVID-19 and Brexit to the labour market and the role of education and training for young people in meeting this challenge.

The report will now go to the floor of the House for approval.

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees