Tory ‘boot camps’ to teach jobless youngsters how to find work

Jobless youngsters would be sent to employment ‘boot camps’ after three months on the dole under Tory plans.

Claimants between 18 and 21 would have to attend intensive courses run by charities and private firms in compiling CVs, job interview techniques and workplace skills.

Those still without work after a year would be forced to pick up litter, clean graffiti or carry out other tasks in the community in return for their £46.85-a-week handouts.

Anyone who refuses to comply will lose the money.

The plans will be unveiled tomorrow by shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling, who will say: ‘Doing nothing will not be an option.

‘In Britain today, where jobs aplenty have been created, there is no excuse whatsoever for a young, able-bodied person to be outside the labour force.

‘But we all know that on a typical working day you can see young people hanging around in town centres in almost every part of this country. This has to stop.’

Under the Tory plan, there would be a totting-up of life on benefits over three years, so youngsters could not dodge the system by simply finding short-term work.

The move, similar to a scheme already being proposed by ministers, will apply to tens of thousands of youngsters out of work for more than three months.

Mr Grayling will say: ‘Staying at home doing nothing will be a thing of the past.

‘This approach is designed to recognise that whilst young people may not always get the job they want immediately, they are better off in a job and looking to move on, than languishing outside the workplace.

‘For those who are struggling, there will be real help. For those who are not, there will be no opt-outs. And we will end the street-corner benefit culture among young people which this Government has left to fester.’

In February, Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell outlined plans to force 220,000 long-term unemployed to do a month’s work or risk losing their benefits.

They will be required to undertake a work placement or join an intensive retraining course.

Last night Mr Purnell’s office called the Tory plan a ‘waste of cash’.

A spokesman said: ‘Most young people find a job within six months. Extra conditions after three months would be a waste of public cash as the current regime gets 85 per cent off benefits within 6 months.

In April 210,700 of those aged 18-24 claimed for up to six months, while only 30,700 claimed for 6-12 months, falling to only 6,000 after 12 months.

The spokesman added: ‘We have already announced a work for dole programme for young people and the long-term unemployed and further details will be in our radical welfare reform green paper in July.’