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Milburn warns Neets crisis will take a decade and billions of pounds to be solved: ‘No such thing as a free lunch’
Alan Milburn says tackling youth unemployment will take a decade and billions of pounds, as he prepares to publish recommendations on young people not in employment, education or training. He argues that sustained investment is needed to reduce welfare reliance and help young people into work, training or employment support.
His proposals are expected to include a legal guarantee of support, while some young people may receive less financial help under a reformed system. Milburn said the UK has about one million 16 to 24-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training, and warned that blunt benefit cuts could shift costs elsewhere in government. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden confirmed some people will receive less after reassessment.
In short
- Milburn says reducing youth unemployment will take ten years.
- The plan is expected to require billions of pounds.
- Some claimants may receive less under a reformed system.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A legal guarantee of tailored support, backed by sustained investment, could help young people gain skills and enter work while reducing long-term reliance on benefits. Spending billions over a decade may be justified if it prevents the larger social and public costs of prolonged unemployment, and blunt benefit cuts could simply shift those costs to other services.
The case against
With public money limited, a costly decade-long programme should show that its support is effective and reaches those most in need. Reassessing benefits and reducing payments for some people could be defended as part of making support fair and affordable, provided young people still have practical routes into training and work.
Explained simply
“NEET” describes someone who is not in education, employment or training. The term covers young people in different circumstances, including those looking for work and those who may need help to take part in education or training.
Alan Milburn is a former UK health secretary who has been asked to make recommendations on support for young people in this position. Pat McFadden, the work and pensions secretary, is responsible for the government department overseeing benefits and employment support.
The debate is about how to help more young people move into work, education or training, and how that support should be funded. Changes to benefits and support could affect young people’s incomes as well as the demands on public services.