Commons Sense

House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement

Get Britain Working White Paper

26 November 2024 · Department for Work and Pensions

Proposed by Liz Kendall Lab Leicester West

Benefits & WelfareEmployment

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

View on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Key points

  • The government is proposing to overhaul Jobcentres into a personalized public employment service with an initial funding of 55m.
  • A new Youth Guarantee in England is being launched to ensure every young person is earning or learning, supported by 45m and eight trailblazers.
  • The government plans to devolve new funding and responsibilities to Mayors and local areas for addressing economic inactivity due to poor health, including 125m for 8 trailblazers and an independent review.

Issue summary

The statement addresses major reforms to employment support in the UK, focusing on creating a new jobs and careers service, establishing a Youth Guarantee for young people, and addressing health-related economic inactivity.

Action requested

The government is proposing three major reforms through its Get Britain Working White Paper: overhauling Jobcentres into a personalized public employment service with initial funding of £55m; launching a new Youth Guarantee in England to ensure every young person is earning or learning, supported by £45m and eight trailblazers; and devolving new funding and responsibilities to Mayors and local areas for addressing economic inactivity due to poor health, including £125m for 8 trailblazers and an independent review.

Key facts

  • UK's employment rate hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic levels among G7 countries.
  • Approximately 2.8 million people are out of work due to long-term sickness or disability.
  • Nearly a million young people are not in education, employment or training (NEET).
  • £55m initial funding for the new jobs and careers service.
  • £45m backing for the Youth Guarantee programme with eight trailblazers announced.
  • £125m of funding for 8 trailblazers to address health-related economic inactivity.
  • Independent “Keep Britain Working” review led by Sir Charlie Mayfield, reporting in Autumn.
▸ Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy