SOUTH Shields MP David Miliband is to lead an inquiry into the unemployment crisis facing Britain’s young people.

The former Foreign Secretary and Schools Minister is chairing a taskforce set up by the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO), which represents the heads of voluntary and charitable organisations.

The review comes as youth unemployment rises sharply in the recession, with concerns also expressed about the scrapping of allowances for college students and rising university tuition fees.

It will also mark the latest stage in Mr Miliband’s comeback to frontline politics after his loss to his brother Ed in last year’s Labour leadership election.

Mr Miliband said: “Hundreds of thousands of young people get the worst possible start to adult life in the form of sustained unemployment.

“It blights their futures and costs the country billions.

“I’m looking forward to talking to third sector organisations, local government, academic experts, businesses, further education institutions and young people so we can develop practical solutions to tackle this crippling problem that is threatening Britain’s next generation.”

He added: “The violence of the last two weeks has put our young people in the headlines, but the truth is that issues of youth unemployment deserve to be addressed in and of themselves.”