SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS NUMBER OF 'NEETS'

Researchers at the London School of Economics found that almost 18% of that age-group in England are so-called Neets - not in employment, education or training - compared with the Government's figure of 7%, reported BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

The divergence appears to reflect different ways of defining a "Neet".

The Government figures take into account anyone who has done any sort of education or training during the past month, while the LSE researchers asked young people what their main activity was.

Minister for young people Beverley Hughes said that the number of Neets aged 16 and 17 should come down as the Government introduced the new education-leaving age of 18.

She told the BBC: "However you want to measure it, the real issue is that we are making preparations now for every young person of 16 to 17 to be in education or training, through raising the participation age and through improving the quality the variety and the flexibility of education and training provision through diplomas and apprenticeships that will be available to them."