Key summary points and briefings for local government on the National Citizen Service Bill.
Second Reading, House of Commons, 16 January 2017
Key messages
- The National Citizen Service Bill makes a clear statement about the value of youth services, and underlines the Government's commitment to boosting the engagement of young people in positive activities. The National Citizen Service (NCS) is a good scheme that provides positive experiences for many children and young people.
- In reforming the legal framework for NCS, we welcome the additional scrutiny the Government has proposed. The NCS receives significant amounts of public funding and it is right that Parliament and the NAO will be able to scrutinise its use.
- The Government is proposing to allocate £1.1 billion in funding for it over the course of this Parliament. With many local services under pressure since 2010 following substantial cuts to local government funding, it is vital that money to run the NCS should not be at the expense of local services for young people. Councils, who know their communities best, must be able to provide services tailored to local needs.
Second Reading, House of Lords, 25 October 2016
Key messages
- The National Citizen Service Bill makes a clear statement about the value of youth services, and underlines the Government's commitment to boosting the engagement of young people in positive activities. The National Citizen Service (NCS) is a good scheme that provides positive experiences for many children and young people.
- In reforming the legal framework for NCS, we welcome the additional scrutiny the Government has proposed. The NCS receives significant amounts of public funding and it is right that Parliament and the NAO will be able to scrutinise its use.
- The Government is proposing to allocate £1.1 billion in funding for it over the course of this Parliament. With many local services under pressure since 2010 following substantial cuts to local government funding, it is vital that money to run the NCS should not be at the expense of local services for young people. Councils, who know their communities best, must be able to provide services tailored to local needs.