Companies are to be paid grants to hire more young people under new government proposals to tackle youth unemployment. Ministers want to create 200,000 jobs and are pledging £1bn in funding for several initiatives. Businesses will receive £3,000 for every person between the ages 18 and 24 that they employ who has been searching for a job for six months or more, while small and medium firms will be paid £2,000 for every new apprentice they take on. Labour has faced criticism from the Conservatives over "disappearing" work opportunities. In the final quarter of last year, the number of young people not currently in education, employment or training - also known as Neets - neared one million. Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden is set to announce the Youth Jobs Grant on Monday. Some 60,000 people are expected to be supported by the proposals.…