Work and Pensions Committee
Select Committee Announcement
28 June 2012
For Immediate Release:
AN08 2012–13
ORAL EVIDENCE
Youth unemployment: Committee to hear from welfare-to-work providers and the recruitment industry
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With youth unemployment figures standing at more than 1 million the Work and Pensions Committee is conducting an inquiry into Youth Unemployment and the Youth Contract.
The Youth Contract is a package of new and existing Government measures, across several Departments and agencies, designed to tackle youth unemployment and to increase engagement in post-16 education and job training. Measures include wage incentives to employers, more JCP work experience placements, extra apprenticeships for young people and a new initiative to support 16–17 year olds with no qualifications. The Government has committed an additional £1 billion to these and other measures over the next three years.
Next week the Committee will hear evidence from Work Programme contractors, who will be involved in delivering the wage incentive and NEET scheme elements of the Youth Contract. The Recruitment and Employment Confederation will represent the views of the professional recruitment industry. Details of the evidence session are as follows:
09.30, Wednesday 4 July 2012
Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Witnesses:
- David MacDougall, Head of Research and Development Manager, Avanta Enterprise Ltd
- Maeve McGoldrick, Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Community Links
- Kirsty McHugh, Chief Executive, Employment Related Services Association (ERSA)
- Kevin Green, Chief Executive Officer, The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC)
–ENDS–
Notes to Editors
The Committee’s inquiry into Youth Unemployment and the Youth Contract was announced in February.
This is the fourth evidence session in a series which will consider the Government’s approach. So far, the Committee has heard evidence from expert witnesses on 23 May, employers’ organisations and the TUC on 13 June and delivery agencies and the Local Government Association on 27 June. Transcripts of the previous sessions are available on the Committee’s webpages.
One further evidence session, on 16 July, will hear evidence from the DWP Minister and officials.
There are over 1 million unemployed young people aged 16–24 years, including full time students. This is nearly 22% of the economically active 16–24 year old population. There are also around 1 million 16–24 year olds not in employment, education or training (NEETs).
Committee membership:
Dame Anne Begg MP (Chair) (Lab, Aberdeen South), Mrs Debbie Abrahams MP (Oldham East and Saddleworth), Harriett Baldwin MP (Con, West Worcestershire), Andrew Bingham MP (Con, High Peak), Karen Bradley MP (Con, Staffordshire Moorlands), Sheila Gilmore (Lab, Edinburgh East), Oliver Heald MP (Con, North East Hertfordshire), Glenda Jackson MP (Lab, Hampstead and Highgate), Brandon Lewis MP, (Con, Great Yarmouth), Stephen Lloyd MP (Lib Dem, Eastbourne), Teresa Pearce MP (Lab, Erith and Thamesmead)
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