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Tories to step up welfare attacks Tories continue welfare attacks
(about 2 hours later)
The Tories are to step up their attacks on Labour's employment record, accusing them of leaving people trapped in a "vicious cycle" of welfare dependency. The Tories have stepped up their attack on Labour's employment record, accusing them of leaving people trapped in a "vicious cycle" of welfare dependency.
Shadow work secretary Theresa May will say unemployment has become entrenched in families with dire social effects. Shadow work secretary Theresa May said unemployment had become entrenched in many families with dire social effects.
Figures released on Wednesday showed the number of UK households with no-one working has risen to a 10-year high.Figures released on Wednesday showed the number of UK households with no-one working has risen to a 10-year high.
Labour said the Tories' failure to help the unemployed in the 1980s had left a disastrous legacy.Labour said the Tories' failure to help the unemployed in the 1980s had left a disastrous legacy.
The Tories argue the impact of the recession on unemployment, with unemployment levels forecast to top three million, highlights the failure of the government to reform the welfare system during better economic times. The Tories argue the impact of the recession on unemployment, which is predicted to reach three million, shows the government failed to reform the welfare system during better economic times.
Vicious cycleVicious cycle
In a speech, Ms May will seek to draw attention to what the Tories say is the financial and human cost of a deep-rooted culture of "worklessness" in many communities. In a speech, Ms May pointed to what the Tories describe as the financial and human cost of a culture of "worklessness" in many communities.
The cost to the state of paying benefits - such as housing, income, council tax and incapacity support - to those not working has reached £346bn since 1997, she will claim. The cost to the state of paying benefits - such as housing, income, council tax and incapacity support - to those not working has reached £346bn since 1997, she claimed.
But the social impact of a lack of work on families and, in particular children, is even more alarming, she will say.
Worklessness has become a generational problem - passed from father to son, mother to daughter Theresa May, shadow work secretaryWorklessness has become a generational problem - passed from father to son, mother to daughter Theresa May, shadow work secretary
Many people are now stuck in a "vicious cycle" where "they can't imagine getting a job" and "don't know anyone else with a job". But the social impact on children growing up in workless families was more alarming, she said, as they were more likely to fail at school, become involved in crime, become addicted to drink and drugs and end up unemployed.
"Worklessness has become a generational problem - passed from father to son, mother to daughter," she will say. Many people were now stuck in a "vicious cycle" where "they can't imagine getting a job" and "don't know anyone else with a job".
"Report after report has laid out the problems children growing up in workless households face: they are more likely to fail at school, become involved in criminal behaviour, develop addictions to drink and drugs and ultimately end up workless themselves. "Worklessness has become a generational problem - passed from father to son, mother to daughter," she said.
"Recession or no recession, it makes no difference to their lives. They have been trapped on benefits for as long as they can remember and they can't see any chance of getting out.""Recession or no recession, it makes no difference to their lives. They have been trapped on benefits for as long as they can remember and they can't see any chance of getting out."
The number of households in which no-one over the age of 16 has a job rose by 240,000 to 3.3 million in the year to June, official figures released on Wednesday showed. The number of households in which no-one over the age of 16 has a job rose by 240,000 to 3.3 million in the year to June, official figures show.
Benefit reformsBenefit reforms
The figures include people such as early retirees, full-time students or those on disability benefit who are not included in the official unemployment statistics. They include early retirees, full-time students and those on disability benefit who are not included in official unemployment statistics.
The annual rate of increase was the highest since 1997. Ministers unveiled plans to shake up of the benefits system earlier this year which would require nearly everyone except single parents with very young children and the severely disabled to prepare for work or face potential penalties. They hope to get one million people off incapacity benefit by 2015.
The number of working age people living in households where no-one works rose by 500,000 to 4.8 million over the same period. Ms May said the proposals were not radical enough and said the Tories were committed to reassessing all existing incapacity benefits claimants.
Just as the Tories turned their backs on people in the last recessions - so too today they oppose Labour's investment to help people now Jim Knight, employment minister The Tories want a bigger role for private firms and voluntary organisations to provide advice and support to the long-term unemployed.
Ministers unveiled plans for a major shake-up of the benefits system earlier this year which would require nearly everyone except single parents with very young children and the severely disabled to prepare for work or face potential penalties.
They hope to get one million people off incapacity benefit by 2015.
The Tories say the proposals - to be backed by extra resources to help people find jobs and support for those returning to the workplace after some time - are not radical enough and their reforms would go much "further and faster".
They want a bigger role for private firms and voluntary organisations to provide advice and support to the long-term unemployed, underpinned by financial incentives.
Ministers criticised the Conservatives' record in government during the 1980s and 1990s.Ministers criticised the Conservatives' record in government during the 1980s and 1990s.
"Labour's programme of welfare reform cut the number of people on incapacity benefit after they trebled between 1980 and 2000 as a result of Tory policies," employment minister Jim Knight said."Labour's programme of welfare reform cut the number of people on incapacity benefit after they trebled between 1980 and 2000 as a result of Tory policies," employment minister Jim Knight said.
"If Theresa May wants to get serious about tackling worklessness she should stop opposing our £5bn programme to deliver real jobs and help people into work."If Theresa May wants to get serious about tackling worklessness she should stop opposing our £5bn programme to deliver real jobs and help people into work.
"Just as the Tories turned their backs on people in the last recessions - so too today they oppose Labour's investment to help people now when they most need it.""Just as the Tories turned their backs on people in the last recessions - so too today they oppose Labour's investment to help people now when they most need it."