This House of Lords Library Briefing has been prepared in advance of the debate due to take place on 18 July 2019 in the House of Lords on the motion moved by Baroness Massey of Darwen (Labour) to move “that this House takes note of the impact of, and response to, the funding levels of public services that interact with young adults”.
Funding of Public Services for Young Adults (289 KB , PDF)
Due to the wide range of public services that interact with young people, this briefing is split into two parts: the first section looks at some of the services provided by local authorities; and the second section summarises spending on young people more generally, including lists of further reading material focused on health and education spending.
Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide services and activities in their area for those aged 13–19 (or up to 24-years old in the case of young adults with a learning difficulty or disability). However, local authorities are required to take the lead on how to provide these services and on how they should be funded. Evidence from the Local Government Association (LGA) and other bodies has indicated reduced funding for youth services, youth offending teams and children’s care services over recent years due to budgetary pressures. The LGA stated that local authorities were having to divert money to only the most vulnerable children and that, even after doing so, authorities were experiencing funding gaps.
The Government has stated that it is reviewing the provision of youth services and is developing a youth charter to set out a vision for the next generations of children. It also highlighted other investment targeted at young people, including the National Citizen Service.
Considering spend on children more generally, a report by the Children’s Commissioner, using analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, estimated that:
Funding of Public Services for Young Adults (289 KB , PDF)
The government recently announced an independent review of physician and anaesthesia associates to be led by Professor Gillian Leng. This announcement followed a debate about the use of the roles in the NHS and concerns raised by some stakeholders about patient safety. The review has been widely welcomed by stakeholders as a way to move the debate forward.
The number of young people with special educational needs and disabilities has increased in recent years, prompting concerns about quality of SEND provision and the impact on local authority finances. A report by the National Audit Office in October 2024 concluded that, without reform, the costs of the SEND system were unsustainable. In the 2024 autumn budget, the Labour government announced an increase in education spending of £11.2bn from 2023/24 levels by 2025/26, with £1bn earmarked for SEND funding.
Fracture liaison services proactively identify people at risk of fractures caused by osteoporosis. Patients can then be assessed and treated to prevent future fractures. The provision of fracture liaison services in England has been called a ‘postcode lottery’ by the Royal Osteoporosis Society, and evidence shows variation in quality and reach. The government has committed to 100% coverage by 2030.
