Cut benefits to fund youth jobs support, says review author

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 08:31 · Archive

Alan Milburn, author of a government review on young people not in education, employment or training, says ministers should cut welfare spending to fund more employment support.

Alan Milburn, former health secretary and author of a government-led review, has told the Guardian that ministers should cut welfare spending to fund more employment support to tackle the youth Neet crisis. His review calculated that a record 1 million young people aged 18 to 24 are now classed as Neet—not in education, employment or training.

Milburn said he believed this represented a 'youth detachment' problem rather than cyclical unemployment, noting that 60% of these young people have never had a job. Speaking to the Guardian, he said: 'We need to redistribute money from the welfare system to more employment support if we are going to end the Neet crisis.' He also called for employment, mental health and benefits support to be more integrated, suggesting that over the medium term it would be possible to reduce the benefits bill if young people were provided adequate support.

Milburn's full report has been delayed until after the government budget, when Chancellor John Healey is expected to explain how he will address a multibillion-pound shortfall in the country's finances. The Prime Minister described the Neet situation as an 'economic catastrophe and a moral failure'. However, the proposal to cut welfare to fund jobs support could prove controversial with Labour MPs, who have previously blocked welfare reform attempts.

How it is being reported

• Labour adviser says welfare should be curbed to get NEETs into work - as Burnham warns crisis among young people is 'economic catastrophe'Alan Milburn, who is advising the Government on the NEETs crisis, said money needs to be 'redistributed' into jobs support.Daily Mail · 19 Oct, 08:18
• Cut benefits to fund work support for young people, says Neet review author Alan MilburnExclusive: Former health secretary says upfront investment in support is needed ‘if we are going to end the Neet crisis’ Ministers should cut welfare spending to fund more employment support if it wants to end the youth Neet crisis, the author of a government-led review has said. Alan Milburn, the Tony Blair-era health secretary, told the Guardian he believed ministers should reduce benefits payments to help pay for more employment support, opening a potentially contentious debate within the Labour party over welfare cuts. Continue reading...The Guardian · 18 Oct, 19:30

In this story: Alan Milburn · John Healey · Andy Burnham · Labour · UK

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