Andy Burnham is being urged to curb welfare to fund measures to get young people into work.
asserted
Burnham → urge → work
Alan Milburn, who is advising the Government on the NEETs crisis, said money needs to be 'redistributed' into jobs support.
asserted
money → advise → support
The intervention came as the PM insisted he is ready to 'invest' in the near-million youngsters not in education, employment or training.
asserted
he → come → education
He described the situation as an 'economic catastrophe and a moral failure'.
asserted
He → describe → catastrophe
But the idea of trimming welfare to free up funding could prove deeply controversial with Labour MPs - who previously killed off Keir Starmer's bid for reforms.
uncertain
who → trim → reforms
Mr Milburn is expected to make a series of recommendations in a report due after the Budget.
asserted
Milburn → expect → Budget
Andy Burnham is being urged to curb welfare to fund measures to get young people into work
Alan Milburn, who is advising the Government on the NEETs crisis, said money needs to be 'redistributed' into jobs support
Speaking to the Guardian, the former Cabinet minister said: 'We've got to have a different conversation about the welfare system, it just isn't working for young people.
asserted
it → urge → people
We need to redistribute money from the welfare system to more employment support if we are going to end the NEET crisis.'
asserted
we → need → crisis
Mr Milburn also called for employment, mental health and benefits support to be more integrated.
asserted
support → call → ?
He said: 'Over the medium term, it is entirely possible that you can reduce the benefits bill, but in order to do that, you've got to provide the support for young people.
'
asserted
you → say → people
You've got to increase the opportunities that are available for young people and then provide the support for them to enable them to grab those opportunities.
asserted
that → get → opportunities
Writing in the Times, Mr Burnham promised to take Mr Milburn's recommendations seriously, calling the number of NEETs 'an economic catastrophe and a moral failure'.
asserted
Burnham → write → NEETs
Pledging to guarantee young people support 'up front', he added: 'We face a choice.
asserted
We → pledge → choice
We either invest in the success of our young people or pay for failure through the benefits system.
asserted
We → invest → system
We cannot afford to do both.
asserted
We → afford → both
Every young person will be guaranteed a 'high-quality technical pathway, work placements, apprenticeships and the skills and experience they need to secure a good job' with 'timely, high-quality mental health support' available.
But that will be matched by an 'expectation that young people will take up the opportunities made available to them', Mr Burnham said.
asserted
Burnham → guarantee → them
The Tories have accused Labour of fuelling the NEETs crisis by ramping up costs for employing young people.
asserted
Tories → accuse → people
An estimated 981,000 young people aged 16 to 24 in the UK were in the category between April and June this year, according to official figures - around one-in-eight of the age group.
uncertain
people → estimate → group
The Government will publish a series of 'jobs plans' for key sectors over the course of the week, beginning with the professional services and construction industries.
asserted
Government → publish → industries
The plans will see 22,400 apprenticeships a year made available by accountancy, legal services and consultancy firms for under-25s.
asserted
apprenticeships → see → under-25s
Construction firms have agreed to make another 40,000 placements available.
Shadow business secretary Julia Lopez said: 'Labour have been a disaster for youth jobs.
An estimated 981,000 young people aged 16 to 24 in the UK were NEET between April and June this year, according to official figures - around one-in-eight of the age group
'
uncertain
people → agree → group
Their tax hikes and red tape have made it harder for businesses to hire, invest and grow, destroying opportunities for young people looking to take their first step on the career ladder.
asserted
businesses → make → ladder
'After increasing costs on employers and burdening firms with more red tape, Labour are now trying to paper over the cracks.'
asserted
Labour → increase → cracks
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: 'Too many young people have been locked out of opportunities for too long.
asserted
people → say → opportunities
These commitments will help change that by creating clear pathways into apprenticeships, training and good jobs.
asserted
commitments → help → apprenticeships
It's encouraging to see even more industries backing young people with new opportunities to gain the skills, training and experience needed to succeed in the growing sectors of our economy.'
asserted
industries → see → economy
The Aporia
