Labour's drive to cut soaring NEET numbers 'delayed until after Budget' amid fears over costs

Published: 05:25 EDT, 7 October 2026 | Updated: 05:27 EDT, 7 October 2026 A major report on how to cut the soaring number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs) is not expected until after this month's Budget.Recommendations by Alan Milburn, the former Labour health secretary who has been charged with reviewing the welfare system, are reportedly not set to be made public until November.Mr Milburn was commissioned to carry out a review into youth unemployment by former prime minister Keir Starmer.The number of NEETs currently stands at about one million with Andy Burnham having said he is 'on a mission' to reduce that number since he replaced Sir Keir as PM.Mr Milburn's report is being held back until November at the earliest to prevent it from overshadowing the Budget on 28 October, The Times reported.According to the newspaper, Mr Burnham will delay publishing the review until after his and Chancellor John Healey's first fiscal showpiece due to concerns about the cost of the welfare overhaul. Andy Burnham will reportedly delay publishing a review until after his and Chancellor John Healey's first Budget due to to concerns about the cost of the welfare overhaul Recommendations by Alan Milburn, the former Labour health secretary who has been charged with reviewing the welfare system, are reportedly not set to be made public until NovemberMr Milburn's package of measures is said to require 'significant' up-front spending and is not expected to produce savings before the end of the decade.'If we're going to put in more support for young people... of course we're going to have to invest behind that. That absolutely has to happen,' Mr Milburn told the Financial Times last month.However, a Whitehall source said they were 'confused' by reports the Milburn review was being held back until after the Budget because the Department for Work and Pensions had never set out a precise publication date.Mr Milburn's report is not the only Government report on the welfare system due to be published in the coming weeks, with social security minister Stephen Timms also soon to unveil his review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).The number of people claiming PIP, the main disability benefit in England and Wales, has climbed to a record high with a total of 4.09 million people entitled to the benefit as of July this year.It is the main benefit paid to someone who has a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability, and is intended to help with everyday tasks and extra living costs. The benefit is not means-tested and is worth up to £194 a week.Spending on PIP stood at £16.3billion in 2019-20, when adjusted for inflation to today's prices, and had increased to £27.3billion by 2024-25, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) figures show.It is currently forecast to rise to £41.5billion by 2030-31.The Department for Work and Pensions said: 'The Milburn review will be published this autumn as planned.'This important work was commissioned to tackle the crisis of opportunity facing young people, and the Government will respond to the final report in due course.'