Labour vows to help dead-end youngsters

Labour yesterday pledged to take action over the increasing army of Dead End youngsters in Britain.

More than 80,000 16-year-olds are now getting no education or training as Tory policies fail to help them.

They are either in low-paid dead-end jobs - or aimlessly roaming the streets unable to claim any benefit and sponging off parents.

But Labour's New Deal for Britain's youngsters, to be unveiled this week in their Target 2000 programme, will aim to ensure that every young person reaches the equivalent of five GCSEs by the age of 18.

It will also guarantee four job options for under-25s in long- term unemployment.

Labour's education and employment spokesman David Blunkett said: "It is vital every young person under 18 has the opportunity to gain the skills that they and employers need for the new century."

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