Welfare Reform on the Web (February 2000): Social Security - UK - New Deal

BROWN DECLARES WAR ON WORKSHY

P. Webster and P. Riddell

Times, Sept. 17th 1999, p. 1

Reports government plans to extend a version of the New Deal programme, which gives four possible alternatives to living on benefit to all of the unemployed. The penalties for non-cooperation with the scheme are likely to be harsher than those about to be brought in for people aged 18-24.

ETHNIC INEQUALITY IN NEW DEAL JOBS

P. Bivand

Working Brief, issue 108, 1999, p. 8-9

Core performance measures show that there are substantial differences in success rates of securing job entry for ethnic minorities in different areas.

JOBLESS MAY LOSE BENEFITS IF THEY SHUN TRAINING

R. Bennett

Financial Times, Nov. 3rd 1999, p. 2

Predicts that the government will propose that anyone recently made unemployed who turns down training opportunities should lose benefits.

OVER-50s TO GET ENSURED MINIMUM INCOME

A. Grice and C. Brown

Independent, Nov. 2nd 1999, p. 1

Reports government plans to unveil a 'New Deal 50 plus scheme' which will ensure that people aged over 50 who have been out of work for six months receive an income of at least £170 per week if they take a full-time job. If they earn less than that, their pay will be topped up by a tax credit worth up to £60.00 per week.

A POVERTY OF OPPORTUNITY

S. Jenkins

Times, Sept. 22 1999, p. 20

Argues that the truly poor, who fall through the net of New Labour's welfare to work policies, now have no political voice and are effectively disenfranchised. There is an opportunity for the Liberal Democrats to recruit them.

SPOTLIGHT ON EMPLOYMENT SERVICE

P. Bivand

Working Brief, issue 108, 1999, p. 17-18

The government has been re-examining the role of the Employment Service. Article summarises the Unemployment Unit's response to the recent consultation. The Unit argues that the Employment Service (ES) should focus on enabling people to secure work which is sustainable, on increasing employability and on promoting equality of opportunity.

SUPERHIGHWAY SHOWS THE ROUTE TO WORK

D. Blunkett

Times, Nov. 2nd 1999, p. 34

Argues for the development of public/private partnerships to design and implement new computer systems to match jobseekers with vacancies. It is proposed to create a National Learning and Work Bank on the Internet that will bring together information on learning opportunities and information about job vacancies.

WELFARE TO WORK: THE NEW DEAL IN THE NHS

Department of Health

London: 1999 (Health Service circular; 1999/225)

Gives managers strict deadlines to recruit 1000 unemployed people to the NHS after official figures revealed a poor uptake of the New Deal welfare-to-work scheme.

'WORK-SHY' TO LOSE BENEFIT IF JOBS ARE REFUSED

A. Grice

Independent, Oct. 18th 1999, p. 5

Jobless adults who refuse work or training will be deprived of benefits under government plans to extend to older people the tough sanctions currently applied to youngsters on the New Deal programme.