The Government deserves at least two cheers for its efforts to achieve the goal of a coherent system of support for young people's choices in employment, education and training. It proposes, for example, to extend financial support to 19-year-olds to finish their courses, review the guidance on Jobseeker's Allowance and introduce a national minimum wage for 16- to 17-year-olds. Some of this will need legislation so we need not count our chickens yet. The period of consultation will also give a chance to encourage the Government to refine some of its proposals. For example, will the personal development courses run by bodies such as Fairbridge or Weston Spirit count as "approved activity" for benefits purposes? Are the proposals sufficient to support apprentices? A notable weakness lies in the failure to identify the role played by housing benefit in shaping the decisions of some young people about which educational or training pathway to take. They see the system as a whole and weigh up its total impact on their financial circumstances.
A major issue is cultural: there is a predisposition in the benefits regime towards disbelief of the young and hence an excessive burden of proof, for example on domestic estrangement. Perhaps we need a new kind of young people's worker who blends the roles of a Connexions personal adviser and a benefits officer and has the specialist skills and authority to offer "tough love" towards those seeking financial support to fulfil their potential.
Much policy attention is focused on the early years: these proposals offer a welcome interest in the continuing needs of disadvantaged young adults. And full marks to the detailed policy work by youth bodies such as Centrepoint who have campaigned on these issues with growing success.
