Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
The work and pensions secretary has expressed support for the government enshrining in law a commitment to assist young people in securing employment. Pat McFadden told the BBC that such job support should have a firm legislative basis, highlighting that the current level of assistance remains unclear and lacks concrete definition. He also confirmed that certain benefit claimants would see their entitlements reduced following upcoming reassessments.
Meanwhile, Helen Whately, the Conservative shadow work and pensions secretary, criticized the idea of a legal guarantee, arguing that it “doesn’t make sense.” She suggested that the government’s efforts would be better directed towards lowering taxes on employers to stimulate real job creation for young people. Her comments come amid ongoing debate about the best ways to support youth employment and welfare spending.
This discussion is set against the backdrop of an anticipated review by Alan Milburn, a former Labour cabinet minister, who is expected to propose that individuals under the age of 25 should be guaranteed access to job placements or training opportunities. Milburn’s forthcoming report is also likely to recommend removing the health element from universal credit and personal independence payment (PIP) for this group, although some young people with health conditions could qualify for a new “additional cost allowance” to help cover daily expenses.
Milburn emphasized the need to shift government spending away from benefits towards enhanced job support, calling for significant additional investment over the next decade. He argued that earlier schemes, such as the Kickstart programme during the Covid pandemic, were only temporarily effective and did not sufficiently reduce long-term unemployment. Reflecting on the proposal for a statutory guarantee, McFadden stressed the importance of careful drafting, noting that while local councils have specific legal duties, central government responsibilities typically cover broader areas like maintaining a comprehensive health service.
On the same program, McFadden confirmed plans to transition younger benefit claimants to a revised system during scheduled reassessments, which may result in some receiving lower payments than before, although those with longstanding disabilities could see increased support. In contrast, Whately, while endorsing reductions in welfare spending, expressed skepticism about the legal guarantee for job support, branding it as perhaps well-intentioned but ultimately ineffective compared to fiscal measures aimed at reducing employer costs. She criticized recent government tax increases on employers intended to subsidize programs resembling jobs, calling for an end to such taxation instead.
Further points raised by Milburn in the interview included a warning that achieving sustainable welfare cuts could not be done quickly without incurring additional government expenses, a recommendation that general practitioners should not be tasked with authorizing sick notes, and a call for close scrutiny of Labour’s manifesto pledge to phase out the reduced minimum wage for workers aged 18-21 due to its financial impact on businesses.
In line with efforts to support young jobseekers, the government has announced plans to expand eligibility for a scheme offering subsidized six-month jobs at minimum wage. From April next year, claimants under 25 will be eligible after 12 months without work rather than 18 months. This follows a previous extension earlier this year that increased the maximum qualifying age from 21 to 24
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.