Young people feeling recessionary chill

A record number of young people are not in any form or education, employment or training (Neets), according to figures from the Conservatives. Nearly 860,000 people aged 16–24 were not in jobs, school or training, up from 629,000 in 2000. The Tories suggest that the recession, along with government cuts to sixth-form funding, apprenticeships and further education college capital spending have contributed to the problem, and they will create a £100 million fund to help young people engage in further training or employment.