The Government is pushing thousands of young people into work placements at companies including McDonald’s and B&M, as it battles to control a welfare bill forecast to reach £333.7bn this year. Working-age benefits including universal credit already account for £145bn of that total, according to data from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) – a figure ministers hope to shrink by moving long-term claimants into paid work. Without intervention, the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts total welfare spending will exceed £408bn by 2030-31. The push comes as the number of young people not in education, employment or training (Neet) […]