Young People and Work: Milburn Interim Report

Jim Shannon Excerpts

Tuesday 3rd November 2026 Westminster Hall

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms McVey. I say a big thank you to the hon. Member for Wrexham (Andrew Ranger) for setting the scene. Alan Milburn’s report held up a mirror to the stark and uncomfortable reality in the United Kingdom that 1 million young people aged 16 to 24 are currently classified as not in employment, education or training, but a staggering 84% of them actively want to work, learn or train—the work ethic is clearly there.

The report refers to a system failure across health, education and welfare. There has been a devastating 70% increase in the number of young people struggling with work-limiting health and mental health conditions, and the number with a disability has risen from 21% to 44%. My question to the Minister is: what is being done to help those with mental health issues and depression? That failure costs our economy a massive £125 billion annually.

In Northern Ireland, we see exactly the same structural failure. Cutting funding to local youth work and training programmes has stripped away the last line of defence for vulnerable young people—especially care leavers and those from rural communities.

[Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry) (DUP)]

Does my hon. Friend agree that many young people do not want to go into formalised education? We need to reach out to those communities to try to assist them and deal with this problem once and for all.

[Jim Shannon]

We certainly do. I thank my hon. Friend for that point.

The problem is not specific to the UK mainland; it affects us back home in Northern Ireland to a great degree. We need a complete shift from a passive welfare state to an active working state. Powers and funding must be handed down to local authorities and the devolved Executives, which understand the job markets in their areas. The mental health system must work hand in hand with employment hubs so that getting better and getting into work are part of the same journey—it is important that we marry those two together. Perhaps more importantly, we need to deliver the promised youth guarantee by providing clear pathways into work, education or apprenticeships, and we need a massive expansion of meaningful work experience placements.

I recognise that the Labour Government have a plan for young people, but if we continue to allow 1 million young lives to remain on hold, we are writing off the future of our workforce and fracturing the social fabric of our communities. It is time to treat youth detachment as the national emergency that it is, break down the silos around Departments and give the next generation the genuine opportunities that they deserve.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Andrew Snowden (Fylde) (Con)]

It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Ms McVey. I congratulate the hon. Member for Wrexham (Andrew Ranger) on securing the debate. I thank all Members who have contributed, including the hon. Member for Horsham (John Milne), who referred to the thoughts of even the most zealous right-wingers. I am not sure where I sit on his zealot-o-meter, but perhaps we will see by the end of my speech—I am sure I will wear it with pride. It is great to be shadowing the Minister; it is always wonderful to debate a fellow Boltonian.

The issues raised by the interim report are made all the more topical by the delay in publishing the final report and by last week’s Budget, which was notable for the absence of any action on the number of young people not in education, employment or training. Alongside the Budget, the Office for Budget Responsibility published a figure that should give every Member pause. Over this Parliament, the Government will spend £911 billion on working-age welfare. That is more than £48,000 for every one of Britain’s more than 18 million working households.

There are few subjects this House debates that matter more to the future of our country. Behind every figure in Alan Milburn’s interim report is a young person whose working life is either not starting well or not starting at all.

[Jim Shannon]

In my contribution I highlighted the issue for young people with mental health issues. That the percentage of those affected went up from 21% to 35% is an indication of a special issue for young people today. The hon. Gentleman will know that through his own constituency, as I do through mine. Does he agree that young people’s mental health must be a priority and that we must focus on them to ensure that they get the employment and the purpose in life that they need?