6,000 living the TV Vicky Pollard life

Almost one in four young people in Oldham are living a Vicky Pollard lifestyle, according to Government.

Official figures show there are 6,000 youngsters aged 16 to 24 dubbed by Government as NEETs —not in employment, education or training across the borough.

Based on percentage it makes Oldham the joint ninth worst area across England. NEETS are often seen as being typified by the teenage delinquent Vicky Pollard in hit TV comedy “Little Britain”, although many could be between jobs, on gap years or young mothers looking after children.

The Office of National Statistics say there is a six per cent either way margin of error on the figures.

Oldham’s MPs criticised the new coalition Government for scrapping Labour’s Jobs Guarantee — which promised anyone under 25 out of work for more than six months would be given training or work.

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas said: “Despite the caution from the ONS that we should not take these figures as being accurate they are nevertheless very worrying.

“The abolition of the jobs guarantee for youngsters makes them startling.”

Oldham West and Royton MP Michael Meacher said: “I will be pursuing this with the Job Centre and finding out why our percentage is so high. The coalition Government abolishing the job guarantee for young people will not help. It is counterproductive as the fund was not about a subsidy it was about getting people into work.

“The last thing we want is another generation of young people out of work. Most people who have spent some time unemployed tend to have a jaundiced view of the labour market and they get depressed. The coalition’s decision to scrap the scheme is irresponsible and criminal.”

By 2015 it will be compulsory for everyone to stay in some form of education or training until they are 18 in a move by the previous Labour Government to tackle the problem of young people leaving without qualifications or workplace skills.

A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: “We are committed to tackling youth unemployment and our new Work Programme will give everyone including young people the proper support and training to help them into work, whatever barriers they face.

“We have invested £150 million in 50,000 new apprenticeship places to provide long-term career opportunities for young people.”

Each NEET is estimated to cost taxpayers an average of £97,000, including benefits, lost tax revenue, the extra cost of health and medical services, and the costs of criminal activity, but the worst cases can swallow up more than £300,000 each.