WITH the summer holidays approaching, many of us will soon be spending more time with our children and grandchildren.
That generation has had a tough time since the pandemic with reported increases in poor mental health, school absences, unemployment and the growing costs of university education and buying a home.
Parliament has been examining these issues, and I have recently met with many young constituents at local schools and colleges to hear their concerns and priorities.
A worrying trend is the number of young people who are on benefits and not in employment, education or training.
A summer job is often the first foray into employment and my first job as a barmaid in Norfolk gave me vital experience that set me up for working life.
However, local employers are struggling to recruit because increased regulations and costs are harming their businesses.
My colleagues and I have backed a campaign to save the summer job, promoting entry-level, flexible and seasonal work in our bars, restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions.
The Government must reverse its tax rises and red tape to empower businesses to hire young people and improve the prospects of the next generation.
Every year I am delighted to host a cohort of young people to do work experience with me. I am always impressed with the potential and purpose that they have.
It is so important that we are able to give every young person the opportunity to thrive after the excellent education they receive at our local schools.
In Parliament, I have been studying the controversial Plan 2 student loans and last week the Treasury Select Committee on which I sit published a damning report criticising the loans’ structure and promotion.
Local students and parents have complained to me about the Chancellor freezing repayment thresholds meaning graduates pay more and remain indebted for longer.
We need to ensure university education delivers good value and the Opposition has suggested a fairer plan.
After the terrible news that Labour’s spiteful tax raid on independent education has led to the closure of Malvern St James with the loss of 200 jobs, I was pleased to hear more encouraging news for local families as Malvern is getting a new special school this year at the former Malvern Hills College site.
I regularly hear from parents who are struggling to access educational support for their children, and the council currently spends eyewatering amounts taxiing pupils to distant providers.
Recently I was lucky to see the progress at the Aurora Peartree site where I understand there is already high demand for places.
Finally, I am relieved the Government has finally given into pressure from the Opposition and parents’ groups on a social media ban for under sixteens.
Hundreds of local parents have contacted me to support a ban and many students who I have met with agree about the harms of social media and excessive screentime.
Dame Harriett Baldwin,
West Worcestershire MP
