The Bishop of Newcastle receive the following written answers on 6th January 2025:
The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to address loneliness and social isolation as a root cause of foodbank usage following a recent report published by the Centre for Social Justice which found that over twice as many people who use foodbanks feel lonely most of the time compared to other adults.
Baroness Sherlock (Lab, DWP): The government’s current work to tackle loneliness includes the Know Your Neighbourhood Fund, a grant fund designed to widen participation in volunteering and tackle loneliness in 27 disadvantaged areas across England.
Jobcentres carry out an important role in identifying people at risk of loneliness by directing people to tailored support such as social prescribing, volunteering opportunities, befriending schemes and other local community opportunities and helping them to return to or prepare to return to the labour market. Good work is also a key element in our approach to tackle poverty and reduce mass dependence on emergency food parcels.
The Lord Bishop of Newcastle asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to make apprenticeships more financially viable for young people and their families.
Baroness Smith of Malvern (Lab, DfE): This government has a driving mission to break down barriers to opportunity and we want to rebalance opportunities towards young people, who have the most to gain from apprenticeships.
From April 2025, the Apprentice Minimum Wage will increase by 18% from £6.40 to £7.55. This welcome increase will boost the hourly wage for thousands of young apprentices across a range of sectors, and those in their first year of an apprenticeship. We also know that many employers pay their apprentices more than the minimum. Latest data shows that the median gross hourly pay for apprentices in 2023 was £11.63 an hour.
The department continues to provide employers and providers with additional funding to support more apprenticeship opportunities for young people. The department provides £1,000 to both employers and training providers when they take on apprentices aged 16 to 18, and up to age 24 for apprentices with an education, health and care plan, or who have been in local authority care. These payments can be used to support costs such as work equipment, uniforms or travel.
Apprentices aged under 25 who have been in local authority care may be eligible for a £3,000 bursary, as well as wages from their employer. The bursary is not subject to tax and is not treated as income for benefits purposes.
Apprentices may also be eligible for local discounted travel schemes. For example, apprentices over 18, living in a London borough and in the first year of an apprenticeship, can get discounted travel with an Oyster photocard.
The Church of England in Parliament 
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