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A major review into rising inactivity among Britain’s young people has been launched by the former health secretary Alan Milburn, with a promise not to shy away from “uncomfortable truths” or “radical” policy solutions.
A panel of health, business and policy experts, including the former John Lewis boss Charlie Mayfield, ex-Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane and social welfare expert Dame Louise Casey, will help draw up recommendations.
Milburn has also launched a call for evidence from young people and a wide range of experts to help shape the investigation, saying a “coalition of the concerned” must mobilise to save a generation not earning or learning.
He is expected to examine the role of mental health issues and disability, after the number of 16- to 24-year-olds receiving health-related benefits soared, with more than a quarter of young people not in education, employment or training (Neet) now citing long-term sickness or disability.
The risk of being Neet is more than double if you come from a disadvantaged background and have low qualifications. The proportion of Neets is highest in the north-east and north-west of England, followed by the East and West Midlands.
“Nearly 1 million young people in Britain are not in education, employment or training – and that number has been rising for four years. This is a national outrage – it’s both a social injustice and an economic catastrophe,” Milburn said.
“We need to create a movement – a coalition of the concerned – to help us understand what’s broken and what must change. Every young person, whatever their background, deserves the opportunity to learn or to earn.
“My report will be unafraid to shine a light on uncomfortable truths and recommend where radical change is needed.”
Milburn was health secretary from 1999 to 2003 under Tony Blair, and was appointed last year as the lead non-executive director of the Department of Health and Social Care.
He will publish an interim report in the spring before the full review in the summer.
The findings are expected to complement yet another review, led by the welfare minister, Stephen Timms, which is looking at the personal independence payment, which covers the extra costs of physical and mental disabilities.
The Mayfield review into economic inactivity recently reported that a young person on benefits loses out on about £1m in earnings and it costs the state a similar amount to support them.
While a series of reviews, reports and white papers have diagnosed the problems, successive Conservative and Labour governments have struggled to arrest the increase in Neets.
In her budget, Rachel Reeves announced £820m to guarantee paid work placements for 18- to 21-year-olds “not earning or learning” for more than 18 months. The government has also announced thousands of apprenticeships.
At the launch of the call for evidence at Brothers Through Boxing in Peterborough, Pat McFadden, the work and pensions secretary, said: “Too many young people are being denied the opportunity to reach their full potential, and it is a crisis we cannot ignore.”
