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Benefits bill to keep rising into 2:030s after Burnham dismissed calls for cuts
UK benefits bill expected to rise into 2030s as Burnham rejects welfare cuts.
In brief
UK benefits bill expected to rise into 2030s as Burnham rejects welfare cuts. UK's benefits bill will continue rising into the 2030s after Prime Minister Burnham dismissed calls for cuts to welfare spending. Originally reported by Dailymail.
Benefits bill rises into 2030s
Britain's benefits bill is expected to continue rising into the 2030s after Andy Burnham pledged not to make 'crude' cuts to bring down welfare spending.
Youth unemployment crisis
The Prime Minister described the scale of youth unemployment in the UK as 'a moral failure' with almost a million young people neither earning nor learning.
NEET youth numbers
An estimated 981,000 young people aged 16 to 24 in the UK were NEET between April and June this year, around one-in-eight of the age group.
PIP claims surge
The number of people claiming PIP, the main disability benefit in England and Wales, has climbed to a record high with 4.09million entitled as of July this year.
Burnham's welfare stance
Burnham said the Government has a 'duty to do everything in its power' to ensure people who can work are in employment, choosing investment in young people over welfare spending.
Milburn review coming
A package of measures to tackle youth inactivity based on Alan Milburn's review is expected to be announced next spring, with a separate PIP review due in coming weeks.
Welfare budget challenge
Ministers expect the costs of the 'back to work' programme to exceed savings from benefit cuts every year until 2030, with potential savings from reforms around 2030.
Youth employment package
The government has already restored opportunity for young people through a £2.5billion youth employment package investing record funding into employment support.
PIP review underway
Social security minister Stephen Timms is conducting a review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) expected to be published in the coming weeks.
Welfare reforms timeline
Downing Street plans to publish new welfare legislation at the start of the next parliamentary session, which could begin in April.
Burnham's choice
Burnham stated the Government faces a choice between investing in young people's success or paying for failure through the benefits system, choosing the former.
Keir Starmer's failed cuts
Keir Starmer's attempt to slash the benefits bill by restricting PIP access was derailed by a major rebellion among Labour MPs.
Fiscal scoring delayed
The fiscal 'scoring' of both the Milburn and Timms reviews will not be published until Chancellor John Healey's spending review next summer.
Long-term savings
Ministers hope welfare reforms will see overall savings from employment support measures increasing the number of young people in work by around 2030.
Welfare bill impact
The benefits bill is expected to continue rising into the 2030s as the government prioritizes youth employment over welfare cuts.
The key point
UK's benefits bill will continue rising into the 2030s after Prime Minister Burnham dismissed calls for cuts to welfare spending.
