Young people are being failed by a 'shameful' welfare system that prioritises benefits over employment, according to the leader of a major Government review. Former health secretary Alan Milburn claimed his review found the state was spending 25 times more on welfare for young people than on measures to get them into jobs.
Systemic Failure Across Multiple Sectors
Appearing on BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Milburn said: 'This is a failure of the welfare system, but it's a failure – I'm sorry – of the school system, the skills system, the health system.' He added that the state was 'transporting them into the world of benefits with incalculable costs for their life chances'.
Social Media's Impact on Young People
Mr Milburn also criticised social media, warning it had fuelled anxiety and 'rewired' young people's brains, affecting sleep patterns and concentration levels. 'That is having an impact on their ability to work,' he said.
Call for Welfare Reform
Urging Labour to act, Mr Milburn said: 'Labour is what it says on the tin, it's the party of work. Work gives purpose, work gives income, work gives meaning.' He stressed that welfare reform must be part of wider reforms to state institutions.
NEET Figures and Upcoming Report
Mr Milburn's interim report into young people Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET) is expected next week. The total number of NEET young people currently stands at 957,000, highlighting the scale of the challenge.
