Alan Milburn Urges Welfare Cuts to Tackle 1 Million Youth Neets

1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Oct 18

1 million 18- to 24-year-olds are now classed as Neet, and Alan Milburn says ministers should shift welfare spending into employment support to tackle what he calls a deeper “youth detachment” crisis.
60% of those young Neets have never had a job, underpinning Milburn’s argument that the system is too focused on cash benefits and not enough on helping people into work.
£100 million has already been pledged for a local apprenticeship service, but Milburn says ending the crisis will require hundreds of millions more upfront and closer integration of employment, health and benefits support.
John Healey faces the debate before his first budget, with ministers having delayed Milburn’s final report until after it while also looking for savings to plug a multibillion-pound fiscal gap.
Mental health is central to the review: Milburn and Peter Fonagy argue rising distress is feeding Neet rates, and they want earlier support, personalised plans and maximum waiting times for young people’s mental health services.