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Private-sector welfare role urged Private-sector welfare role urged
(about 9 hours later)
Private firms and voluntary groups should run schemes to get people off welfare benefits and into work, a report will say.Private firms and voluntary groups should run schemes to get people off welfare benefits and into work, a report will say.
The government-commissioned paper is expected to outline a major overhaul of welfare to work services on Monday.The government-commissioned paper is expected to outline a major overhaul of welfare to work services on Monday.
It is also anticipated it will suggest forcing single parents to return to work when their child reaches 11. This may include forcing more single parents to return to work.
But Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton ruled out cutting the level of anyone's benefits. Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton has also warned that claimants' benefits could be reduced or withdrawn as a "last resort".
'Specialist networks' 'Active help'
The report, written by former city banker David Freud, is due to be unveiled on Monday by Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton. Mr Hutton told BBC One's Sunday AM he was prepared to cut the benefits of people who did not seek help or accept advice about finding work.
"The status quo, I think, is not defensible.
"We should be prepared to have an open mind about reform, but it will not be based on the principle that the first thing you do is cut people's benefits.
"You should never do that - that's the last resort."
He added: "What we should do is provide active help and support to get these people back to the labour market."
If you want to present yourself well at an interview, you've got to look the part John HuttonWork and Pensions Secretary
The report, written by former city banker David Freud, is due to be unveiled on Monday by Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Mr Hutton.
Mr Freud was called in to reduce the number of people of working age on benefits, for which they do not have to be actively seeking work.Mr Freud was called in to reduce the number of people of working age on benefits, for which they do not have to be actively seeking work.
His report is expected to say that organisations running the schemes should be given cash incentives for keeping people off benefits.His report is expected to say that organisations running the schemes should be given cash incentives for keeping people off benefits.
If you want to present yourself well at an interview, you've got to look the part John HuttonWork and Pensions Secretary Mr Hutton said a proposal to privatise help for the unemployed could sit alongside the existing system for getting people into work - Job Centre Plus.
Mr Hutton told BBC One's Sunday AM show that a proposal to privatise help for the unemployed could sit alongside the existing system for getting people into work - Job Centre Plus. HAVE YOUR SAY All the current system does is reward those who want something for nothing. Jon Butler, UK class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5675&edition=1">Send us your comments
"Job Centre Plus does a fantastic job but what we should consider now is whether it should focus on those who are easiest to help and if we should use is a network of specialist providers to provide the help for those who are furthest away form the labour market," he said. He also did not rule out suggestions that money could also be made available to help the long-term unemployed buy a suit or get a haircut in preparation for their job hunt.
"Its easier for people who have been on long-term benefits to work with those types of organisation and develop the personal relationship than sometimes it is with an arm of the state bureaucracy."
HAVE YOUR SAY All the current system does is reward those who want something for nothing. Jon Butler, UK Send us your comments 'Confidence'
Mr Hutton also did not rule out suggestions that money could also be made available to help the long-term unemployed buy a suit or get a haircut in preparation for their job hunt.
"For a lot of people it is about confidence building and sometimes, if you want to present yourself well at an interview, you've got to look the part," he said."For a lot of people it is about confidence building and sometimes, if you want to present yourself well at an interview, you've got to look the part," he said.
"If you've spent a long time on benefit you won't be in a position to do that. Other issues the report is expected to raise include considering giving people help to pay off debts they have accrued while on benefits, and tackling the problem of people doing short spells of work and then having longer periods on benefit.
Other issues the report is expected to raise include: Those who are not working very often have good reasons for not doing so Chris PondOne Parent Families
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  • considering giving people help to pay off debts they have accrued while on benefits
  • tackling the problem of people doing short spells of work and then having longer periods on benefit
  • making welfare payments conditional on looking for work or taking part in training
Welfare reform expert Professor Alan Marsh, of the Policy Studies Institute, told BBC Radio Five Live there were already incentives for people to work.
Those who are not working very often have good reasons for not doing so Chris PondDirector, One Parent Families
However, welfare reform expert Professor Alan Marsh, of the Policy Studies Institute, told BBC Radio Five Live that there were already incentives for people to work.
"We've been increasing incentives, year on year, for the last 10, 15 years," he said."We've been increasing incentives, year on year, for the last 10, 15 years," he said.
"People have been given increasing tax credits to go into work. Some people who go into work - particularly those with children - are getting more in cash incentives from the government than they get in wages from their new employer.""People have been given increasing tax credits to go into work. Some people who go into work - particularly those with children - are getting more in cash incentives from the government than they get in wages from their new employer."
'Real mistake''Real mistake'
Making single parents go to work once their youngest child reached 11 was another debate likely to be raised.Making single parents go to work once their youngest child reached 11 was another debate likely to be raised.
"If you are a lone parent, the system does not expect you to take any active steps to get back to work until your youngest child is 16," Mr Hutton said."If you are a lone parent, the system does not expect you to take any active steps to get back to work until your youngest child is 16," Mr Hutton said.
"We know that having spent years in the benefits system those single parents are usually not in a position to make active steps to get back to active work so a lot of them go directly from income support onto incapacity benefit. However Chris Pond, director of the group One Parent Families, told the BBC he thought forcing single parents into work was a bad idea.
"We've got to break that logjam.
However Chris Pond, director of the group One Parent Families, told the BBC he thought that forcing single parents into work was a bad idea.
"It would be a real mistake to start cajoling lone parents, even those with older children, into jobs when it's just not right for them," he said."It would be a real mistake to start cajoling lone parents, even those with older children, into jobs when it's just not right for them," he said.
"Most lone parents with older children are already working. About 70% already have a job. Those who are not working very often have good reasons for not doing so.""Most lone parents with older children are already working. About 70% already have a job. Those who are not working very often have good reasons for not doing so."
Kate Green, chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, said policies should not just be about getting people jobs, but getting them the right sort of jobs.Kate Green, chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, said policies should not just be about getting people jobs, but getting them the right sort of jobs.
"I think it's absolutely right that the government thinks that work is the best route out of poverty, and for many parents and children it is," she said. "Around half of children who are poor are in families where there is at least one adult in paid work, so I think it's very important to make sure that, if we're talking about more parents going out to work, that really it is the kind of work that can enable them properly to provide for their kids."
"But around half of children who are poor are in families where there is at least one adult in paid work, so I think it's very important to make sure that, if we're talking about more parents going out to work, that really it is the kind of work that can enable them properly to provide for their kids."