Former Labour Health Secretary Alan Milburn has launched a significant independent review aimed at tackling the alarming rise in the number of young Britons who are not in education, employment, or training.
A 'Coalition of the Concerned' Mobilises
Launching the review at the Brothers Through Boxing community gym in Peterborough, Milburn declared that a 'coalition of the concerned' must now mobilise to save a generation at risk. He warned that the situation facing nearly one million young people is both a 'social injustice and an economic catastrophe'.
The review panel will be supported by a high-profile group of experts, including former John Lewis chairman Sir Charlie Mayfield, ex-Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane, and social welfare specialist Dame Louise Casey. Their mission is to diagnose systemic failures and propose actionable solutions.
Examining the Root Causes of Inactivity
A central focus of the investigation will be the dramatic surge in young people citing long-term sickness or disability as a barrier to work or study. Official data shows that over a quarter of those classified as Neet now attribute their status to health issues, with the number of 16- to 24-year-olds on health-related benefits having soared.
The review will also scrutinise the stark geographical and social disparities in the data. The risk of being Neet is more than double for those from disadvantaged backgrounds with low qualifications. Regionally, the north-east and north-west of England have the highest proportions, followed by the East and West Midlands.
'We need to create a movement to help us understand what's broken and what must change,' Milburn stated. 'My report will be unafraid to shine a light on uncomfortable truths and recommend where radical change is needed.'
Policy Context and Government Action
The launch comes amidst a flurry of governmental activity on the issue. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden, who attended the Peterborough event, described the crisis as one that 'cannot be ignored'.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves recently announced an £820m package in her budget to fund paid work placements for 18- to 21-year-olds who have been 'not earning or learning' for over 18 months. This initiative runs alongside pledges to create thousands of new apprenticeships.
Milburn's findings, with an interim report due in spring and a final version in summer, are expected to complement a separate review led by Welfare Minister Stephen Timms into the Personal Independence Payment system.
The scale of the challenge is underscored by the recent Mayfield review on economic inactivity, which calculated that a young person on benefits loses approximately £1 million in lifetime earnings, with a similar cost to the state for their support. Despite numerous reports and policy papers over successive Conservative and Labour governments, the number of Neets has continued to rise for four consecutive years.
