One in six teenagers out of work or education for a long period could be dead within 10 years, a senior government education adviser has claimed. Jon Coles, director of schools for England at the Department for Children, Schools and Families quoted anecdotal research from the north of England.

Ministers said the research did not represent the national picture. But Mr Coles quoted findings that looked back at the so-called “Neets” (not in education, employment or training) of 10 years ago, and discovered that 15 per cent of those studied had already died.