MPs Debate the Interim Milburn Review

Last week, MPs met in Parliament to debate the interim report of Alan Milburn’s independent review, ‘Young People and Work’, published on 28 May 2026. Led by Andrew Ranger MP, the debate drew contributions from 20 backbench MPs and took place ahead of the review’s final report, which Lilian Greenwood MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said is expected in the coming weeks. 

Several Members focussed on the interim report’s finding that no single institution is responsible for supporting young people into work. Ian Sollom MP (LD) referred to Milburn’s description of “parallel play”, in which education, welfare and health each answer for their own outcomes, but “nobody is accountable for the pathway from childhood to working life.” He pointed to the “hidden cohort” of about 314,000 18 to 24-year-olds not in employment, education, or training (NEET) in England, nearly half of whom claim no benefits, and asked whether responsibility should sit “with a named local body working within a national framework”. Andrew Ranger MP made a similar point about data, arguing that information on young people is not joined up. 

Other Members emphasised local delivery. Darren Paffey MP (Lab) described programmes in Southampton, saying “none of those are national schemes; they are all local partnerships that know their young people by name” and asked whether the Government’s response to the final report would include sustained funding for them. Patrick Hurley MP (Lab) called for local areas to have the freedom and resources to design support around local labour markets. 

This reflects key findings from our Skills Commission report, Earning or Learning, which identified data fragmentation as a central reason hidden NEETs remain beyond the reach of services. To address this, Earning or Learning recommends using the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 to introduce a Youth Data Duty, requiring national government to share real-time participation status for all 18 to 24-year-olds with local authorities and Mayoral Strategic Authorities. On local delivery, our report argues for devolved delivery within a clear national framework. It recommends a consolidated, multi-year Youth Opportunity Fund devolved to local authorities and ringfenced for NEET prevention, and a statutory Youth Guarantee Implementation Chapter in every Local Skills Improvement Plan, operating within national minimum entitlement standards. 

Early intervention and work experience were also prominent. Amanda Hack MP (Lab) noted that compulsory work experience was scrapped in 2012 and argued that “data from comparable countries shows that when more 14 to 16-year-olds have employment experience, fewer young people are NEET.” Ian Sollom MP set out the Liberal Democrats’ call for 100 hours of work experience for every young person before 18, while Lillian Greenwood MP restated the Government’s ambition for two weeks of meaningful work experience during secondary school, supported by 44 Careers Hubs. Gareth Snell MP (Lab/Co-op) raised a practical barrier, noting that recent safeguarding guidance requires workplaces hosting a young person for more than three days to undergo a DBS check, which he said deters small businesses. The Minister said the Government is aware of the issue and is working to address it. 

Earning or Learning found that the system may not yet be ready to deliver work experience at scale. It cites Careers and Enterprise Company data showing that 26% of schools are not delivering the required provision, and a Key Group study finding that just 1.7% of pupils did two weeks’ worth of work experience. In response, Earning or Learning recommends funding a Work Experience Coordinator in every Careers Hub, with Mayoral Strategic Authorities and combined authorities setting minimum placement standards and volume targets. It also recommends that every secondary school offer, or partner to provide, at least one clearly signposted 14 to 16 applied learning route. 

Members also discussed the role of employers. Andrew Ranger MP argued that “Every form that stands between a willing business and a young person is an opportunity lost.” Alex McIntyre MP (Lab) said small businesses in Gloucester often receive hundreds of applications per role and that “They want to do their bit, give feedback and support young people, but they need help to do it.” Ian Sollom MP proposed skills co-operatives through which SMEs could pool training and pastoral support. 

There was disagreement over the role of employment costs. Andrew Snowden MP (Con) and Ian Sollom MP argued that increases in employer National Insurance contributions have added pressure on entry-level hiring, while Lillian Greenwood MP noted that employers pay no National Insurance on employees under 21 earning less than £50,000. Earning or Learning found that SMEs consistently identify complexity rather than direct wage costs as the primary deterrent, although the report also notes evidence from the Bank of England’s Chief Economist that recent policy changes have made it harder for young people to secure positions. Earning or Learning recommends a single ‘Youth Opportunities for Employers’ service, offering one digital front door for advertising opportunities, standardised paperwork with shared insurance and safeguarding assurances, and local brokerage support for SMEs. 

Finally, MPs representing rural constituencies, including Ann Davies MP (PC), Adam Dance MP (LD), Joe Morris MP (Lab), and John Whitby MP (Lab), described transport as a major barrier to work and education. Joe Morris MP asked the Minister if the new system will be ‘rural-proofed’ from the start and Dr Scott Arthur MP (Lab) asked the Government to look again at free bus travel for young people in England. Lillian Greenwood MP responded by saying that this was a matter for the Department for Transport. Earning or Learning recommends a national 16 to 18 free bus entitlement modelled on Greater Manchester’s Our Pass scheme, estimated to cost £150 to 200 million per year, alongside an increase in the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund from £160 million to £400 million annually. 

With the final report expected shortly, the debate showed broad cross-party agreement on Milburn’s diagnosis, alongside continuing differences over welfare, employer costs and funding. The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Skills, Careers and Employment (APGSCE) will be holding a reaction event once Milburn has published his final report.  

The Skills Commission is now building on Earning or Learning through a new inquiry into apprenticeships. For further information, please contact Max Bishop at (max.bishop@policyconnect.org.uk). 

For more information on the wider work of the Education and Skills team, please contact Rhiannon Tuckett-Jones at (rhiannon.tuckett-jones@policyconnect.org.uk).