What we know about Labour's new young employment scheme
During Chancellor Rachel Reeves' media round this morning, one key focus was her announcement of guaranteed paid work placements for young people who've been unemployed for 18 months.
What we know
The scheme will see paid work placements offered to young people to help them secure full-time employment
It will be offered to every young person aged 18 to 21 who has been on Universal Credit for 18 months without "earning or learning"
Those who don't take up the offer without a "reasonable excuse" could face sanctions, like being stripped of their benefits
What we don't know
What the range of jobs placements on offer will be, though Reeves mentioned retail, government and the cultural sector this morning
If young people will have a choice in what placement they accept
What businesses have signed up to the programme, though Reeves has said she has the backing of "business organisations"
What a "reasonable excuse" to opt out of the scheme would look like
Full details will be in November's Budget, when the chancellor sets out the government's tax and spending plans.
[SRC] https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cd073r829jxt?page=3
