ANDY BURNHAM TO ANNOUNCE WELFARE BILL CUTS PLAN

Andy Burnham, Prime Minister, will announce a major welfare intervention on Tuesday aimed at reducing the welfare bill, according to reports. The announcement will focus on getting young people into work and improving support for school leavers, the Financial Times reported. Mr Burnham indicated on Monday during a BBC Panorama interview that the Department for Work and Pensions would face changes, hinting at forthcoming cuts. He stated that some young people had been "quite seriously let down because the support wasn't there for them".

Mr Burnham plans to order schools to tailor their curriculum to the needs of local employers as part of efforts to close what he describes as "the gap between the classroom and workplace". He will argue that reducing the welfare bill requires stopping people from becoming disconnected from work. The Prime Minister has also suggested that DWP payments could become conditional on recipients "taking opportunities that are presented in front of them". Mr Burnham is drawing on his experience as Greater Manchester Mayor in formulating the policy.

The announcement comes as Mr Burnham awaits conclusions from two ongoing DWP reviews. The Timms Review is examining Personal Independence Payment, whilst the Milburn Review is examining the issue of young people classified as NEET (not in education, employment or training). The Department for Work and Pensions has stated both reviews are due to deliver final recommendations to the Prime Minister this autumn.