The government last night defended radical reforms of the benefits system, which will require unemployed people to prove they are taking steps to get back to work or face cuts to their benefits, as a "fair deal".
The £1.3bn "tough love" package, unveiled by UK Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell in a White Paper yesterday, includes plans to make the vast majority of people on incapacity benefit attend job interviews, while those out of work for a year will be required to do four weeks' full-time activity. Those still not in paid employment after two years may have to work full-time for their benefit.
Meanwhile, as revealed in The Herald yesterday, Glasgow will be the latest UK city to host a pilot scheme that will involve private and voluntary organisations in getting people back into work.
After initial investment by the government and stakeholders, ministers hope the scheme will eventually be paid for by savings made in benefit payments.
Mr Purnell said almost everyone on benefits would now be expected to do something in return for their money, from accepting a training place or work trial to updating their CV. The only exceptions will be carers, workless parents of very young children and those who are severely disabled.
Drug addicts will also be subject to tough new rules, including an obligation to address their addiction.
In a Commons statement, Mr Purnell said he wanted to "transform" the lives of people on benefits through additional help with training and childcare. "It's a fair deal. More support, in return for higher expectations," he told MPs.
He added: "These reforms point the way to a fairer society where children don't grow up in poverty, where disabled people enjoy real equality, and everyone is given real help to overcome the barriers to achieving their full potential."
Shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling said that while the Tories were supportive of the plans, they were almost identical to their own ideas.
The proposals received a mixed reaction from Scottish politicians and campaign groups. Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy welcomed the new approach, saying: "Yesterday's announcement marks a revolution in the way welfare is organised. We are committed to trying out new approaches to supporting those who are hardest to help, including those who have been on incapacity benefits for many years."
Glasgow North MP Anne McKechin added: "Fundamental change was needed. Incapacity benefit has for too long been viewed as something we parked' people on and left them stranded.
"People in Glasgow are, on average, out of the job market for nine years. These plans offer people a better level of support and a more individual package. But it is also a two-way contract."
However, SNP MP John Mason, who represents Glasgow East, said he was concerned that the new proposals offered "too many sticks and not enough carrots". "Of course, if people can work, they should be given support and encouragement to do so," he said. "However, we must see more details of these plans. Are there really jobs out there?"
LibDem shadow Scottish secretary, Alistair Carmichael MP said: "Jim Murphy should be working with the Scottish Government to ensure the necessary support is in place, rather than boasting about the fact that Scots in his own back yard will be the first to be hit by botched reforms."
City joins welfare revolution'
GLASGOW is one of five cities and regions in the UK signed up to the "welfare revolution" pilot.
The new scheme, running for three years from 2011, will involve a local consortium of councils, private companies and voluntary organisations in getting the long-term unemployed - and particularly those on incapacity benefit - back into work.
Initially funded by government money, the pilot, based on the successful Pathways to Work programme, will see the consortiums bid for "results-based" contracts to supply "personalised" support programmes. Organisations that succeed in providing this localised welfare will receive a proportion of the money saved by the government on benefits costs.
Glasgow City Council leader Steven Purcell welcomed Glasgow's inclusion in the pilot, but said more flexibility was needed if the plans were to succeed. "There is much more to be done if we are to make real strides in this difficult area and I believe the rules need to be relaxed even further as they hinder us from getting the long-term unemployed back into work in this city," he said.
Critics fear the nature of the contracts will put providers under pressure to get results, and that employers are unlikely to be flexible.
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