Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the government is aiming for "quite radical change" in the way young people are supported, signalling tougher benefit rules alongside more help with finding work and mental health support. He was speaking in interviews on Friday, ahead of the second report by former minister Alan Milburn on reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training, The Times reported.

"I am prepared to take difficult decisions because I can't accept the idea that we have a million or more young people in their 20s on benefits," Burnham said. "It's not good for them. It's not good for anybody. So there does need to be quite radical change in the way we support young people." The first part of Milburn's review, published in May, found about one in eight young people — around one million — were not working or in training.

Investment first, savings later

Burnham told Times Radio the government would need to spend more on support for young people before welfare costs could come down, saying ministers would "reprioritise" and find funding for the response to the Milburn review, according to PA reporting. He said he wanted every young person to have a guarantee of a 45-day work placement between the ages of 16 and 18.

The Milburn review is due to be published later this month and is expected to recommend limiting access to some benefits for people who refuse to engage, with more employment support in their place. Burnham described the review as "a root and branch review of childhood and how we support young people on their way in life". No final decisions have been announced, and ministers are expected to set out their response in the coming weeks.

Sources: The Times; PA, via East Kilbride Today.