Sun, 09 Nov 2025

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 Inquiry to review rise in young people not working or studying

Former Labour Health Secretary Alan Milburn will lead the investigation, with conclusions set to be published next summer.

* Government launches inquiry into "Neets" (young people not in education, employment or training) led by Alan Milburn
* Number of Neets has risen to 1 in 8, approaching 1 million, with long-term sickness or disability cited as a major barrier
* Review will examine reasons behind rise and ways to cut costs of youth inactivity and get young people off benefits into work
* Government says its goal is to transform lives and life chances, and prevent a generation of young people being consigned to a life on benefits with no prospects
* Prime Minister has called the broader benefits system unsustainable and unfair, but reform efforts have been met with resistance from Labour backbenchers
* Number of young people claiming Universal Credit (UC) Health and Employment Support Allowance has risen by over 50% in past 5 years
* 80% of young people on UC Health element cite mental health reasons or neurodevelopmental condition as the reason for their claim
* Review is expected to be "uncompromising" and expose failings in employment support, education, skills, health and welfare.
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