Crouch has confirmed that £9,781,587 handed to providers in 2016 on places that were not filled cannot be recouped because the money was spent on "upfront costs".
But she said action has been taken to ensure unfilled places are kept to a minimum this year. This includes changes to the performance framework of the NCS Trust, which manages the service, to include a focus on filling places.
In addition, the trust is to improve the way it commissions provision to ensure it is better aligned to demand.
Crouch made the pledge in response to a parliamentary question from Labour's shadow youth minister Cat Smith.
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