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Rachel Reeves to guarantee paid work for young people unemployed for 18 months | Rachel Reeves to guarantee paid work for young people unemployed for 18 months |
(32 minutes later) | |
Young people who have been out of a job or education for 18 months will be offered a guaranteed paid work placement, Rachel Reeves is set to announce. | Young people who have been out of a job or education for 18 months will be offered a guaranteed paid work placement, Rachel Reeves is set to announce. |
Those who do not to take up the offer could face being stripped of their benefits. | |
In her speech to Labour's annual conference in Liverpool, the chancellor will promise "nothing less than the abolition of long-term youth unemployment". | In her speech to Labour's annual conference in Liverpool, the chancellor will promise "nothing less than the abolition of long-term youth unemployment". |
Reeves is also expected to make the case for a society founded on "contribution", where "hard work is matched by fair reward". | |
It comes ahead of November's Budget, with the chancellor under pressure to balance the public finances, while also boosting economic growth. | |
The scheme builds on a "youth guarantee", announced last November, which promised every 18 to 21-year-old in England access to an apprenticeship, training, education opportunities or help to find a job. | The scheme builds on a "youth guarantee", announced last November, which promised every 18 to 21-year-old in England access to an apprenticeship, training, education opportunities or help to find a job. |
Under the new initiative, every young person who has been on Universal Credit for 18 months without "earning or learning" will be offered a guaranteed paid work placement. | Under the new initiative, every young person who has been on Universal Credit for 18 months without "earning or learning" will be offered a guaranteed paid work placement. |
Those who refuse to take up the offer without a reasonable excuse will face sanctions such as losing their benefits. | Those who refuse to take up the offer without a reasonable excuse will face sanctions such as losing their benefits. |
The aim of the placements would be to help people build up the skills to get a full-time job. | The aim of the placements would be to help people build up the skills to get a full-time job. |
An estimated one-in-eight 16-24-year-olds are not currently in education, employment or training - around 948,000 people - according to the latest figures. | An estimated one-in-eight 16-24-year-olds are not currently in education, employment or training - around 948,000 people - according to the latest figures. |
The numbers hit an 11-year high of 987,000 at the end of last year. | The numbers hit an 11-year high of 987,000 at the end of last year. |
The new scheme will build on existing employment support and work placements delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions. | The new scheme will build on existing employment support and work placements delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions. |
It will work with private companies, with the government anticipating businesses would cover at least some of the wages for job placements. | It will work with private companies, with the government anticipating businesses would cover at least some of the wages for job placements. |
The government has not given a figure for the cost of the scheme but it will be funded from existing budgets set out in the spending review earlier this year. | The government has not given a figure for the cost of the scheme but it will be funded from existing budgets set out in the spending review earlier this year. |
Full details will be set out in November's Budget, when the chancellor sets out the government's tax and spending plans. | Full details will be set out in November's Budget, when the chancellor sets out the government's tax and spending plans. |
Reeves is facing a difficult Budget, with economists warning tax rises or spending cuts will be needed for the chancellor to meet her self-imposed borrowing rules. | |
In her conference speech, the chancellor is expected to say: "I will never be satisfied while too many people's potential is wasted, frozen out of employment, education, or training. There's no defending it. | |
"It's bad for business, bad for taxpayers, bad for our economy, and it scars people's prospects throughout their lives." | |
She will add: "Just as the last Labour government, with its new deal for young people, abolished long-term youth unemployment I can commit this government to nothing less than the abolition of long-term youth unemployment." | |
The announcement was welcomed by the Federation of Small Businesses as "hugely important". | The announcement was welcomed by the Federation of Small Businesses as "hugely important". |
The group's policy chair, Tina McKenzie, said: "Reprioritising spending from employment programmes which aren't working to this type of scheme is exactly the way to get much-needed bang for taxpayer cash." | The group's policy chair, Tina McKenzie, said: "Reprioritising spending from employment programmes which aren't working to this type of scheme is exactly the way to get much-needed bang for taxpayer cash." |
She added: "Key to getting the details right is making sure there is a backstop offer to those who are now over-25, particularly those with health challenges; that young people out of work for health reasons are not excluded through misguided double funding rules; and that small businesses are enabled to play a full role in the delivery of the scheme." | She added: "Key to getting the details right is making sure there is a backstop offer to those who are now over-25, particularly those with health challenges; that young people out of work for health reasons are not excluded through misguided double funding rules; and that small businesses are enabled to play a full role in the delivery of the scheme." |
However, there are questions over whether businesses facing pressures including increases in National Insurance Contributions and the National Minimum Wage would be able to take on large numbers of new workers. | However, there are questions over whether businesses facing pressures including increases in National Insurance Contributions and the National Minimum Wage would be able to take on large numbers of new workers. |
The number of job vacancies in the UK has been falling, hitting their lowest level since the pandemic earlier this year. | The number of job vacancies in the UK has been falling, hitting their lowest level since the pandemic earlier this year. |
In her speech, Reeves will also set out her belief in a "Britain based on opportunity", where "ordinary kids can flourish, unhindered by their background". | |
"I believe in a Britain founded on contribution - where we do our duty for each other, and where hard work is matched by fair reward," she is expected to say. | "I believe in a Britain founded on contribution - where we do our duty for each other, and where hard work is matched by fair reward," she is expected to say. |
It comes after the influential think tank Labour Together published a report last week arguing the government should put the idea of "contribution" - that if you pay in to the system, you should be able to see what you get out of it - at the heart of its agenda. | It comes after the influential think tank Labour Together published a report last week arguing the government should put the idea of "contribution" - that if you pay in to the system, you should be able to see what you get out of it - at the heart of its agenda. |
The chancellor will also pledge to fund a library in every primary school in England. | |
Around one-in-seven state primary schools in England - roughly 1,700 - do not have a library, according to figures from the National Literacy Trust, rising to one-in-four for disadvantaged areas. | Around one-in-seven state primary schools in England - roughly 1,700 - do not have a library, according to figures from the National Literacy Trust, rising to one-in-four for disadvantaged areas. |
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