Radical rethink needed on Neets

A radical change to the way Government is trying to get more young people in education, employment and training is needed, a group of MPs have warned.

The Commons Children’s Schools and Families Select Committee said the number of 16 to 18-year olds not in education, employment or training (Neets) had changed very little over the past decade, despite a succession of Government policies.

The report urged Government to act more quickly on establishing a seamless strategy for all people Neets aged 16 to 24 year olds. Latest figures show there are 6,000 young people in Oldham classed as Neets.

Neets are often seen as being typified by the teenage delinquent Vicky Pollard in hit TV comedy “Little Britain”, although the Government insists “nearly half” of those in the category could be between jobs, on gap years or young mothers looking after children.

Committee chairman Barry Sheerman (Labour, Huddersfield) said: “The Government has to ask itself why the proportion of 16 to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training has remained at around 10 per cent, despite one policy strategy after another.

“It is time to take a more radical approach.”

One suggestion was a system used in Holland where the equivalent of the Jobseeker’s Allowance was dependent on compulsory participation in work, education or training.