Telford MP Lucy Allan speaks out over youth unemployment

Ms Allan said young people who were not in education, employment or training faced "very specific challenges".

She urged the Department for Work and Pensions to state specifically what was being done to reduce the numbers of these youths.

Ms Allan spoke in the House of Commons and praised progress made in reducing youth unemployment numbers. She said the figures were "really welcome".

However, she said: " What has the Department done specifically to focus on reducing the numbers of young people who are not in education, employment or training, given the very specific challenges that those people face?"

Priti Patel, Minister of State for Department for Work and Pensions, replied: "This Government has had a very strong track record in supporting young people in getting back into work.

"This area was discussed at the recent G20. We have now joined an international commitment to do even more because we are ambitious for our young people. We have agreed to have a target for doing more by reducing the number by 15 per cent by 2025. We are committed to that.

"She will be interested to know that our international counterparts are also interested in what the United Kingdom has done and achieved."