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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Private firms to find people work | Private firms to find people work |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Private firms and voluntary groups are to be offered cash incentives to get unemployed people into work for longer. | Private firms and voluntary groups are to be offered cash incentives to get unemployed people into work for longer. |
| Work Secretary James Purnell said the plan, which will see more payments if someone is in work for six months, was intended to "personalise" services. | Work Secretary James Purnell said the plan, which will see more payments if someone is in work for six months, was intended to "personalise" services. |
| It came as MPs said 40% of jobseekers allowance claimants who find a job are out of work again within six months. | It came as MPs said 40% of jobseekers allowance claimants who find a job are out of work again within six months. |
| The Tories called it "tinkering" and said Mr Purnell was trying to "steal Conservative language" on welfare. | The Tories called it "tinkering" and said Mr Purnell was trying to "steal Conservative language" on welfare. |
| The figures on unemployed people not staying in new jobs came in a report from the Commons public accounts committee. | The figures on unemployed people not staying in new jobs came in a report from the Commons public accounts committee. |
| Freud review | Freud review |
| It also criticised the fact the government had considered 13 weeks in a job to be "sustained" employment, saying it was too short. | It also criticised the fact the government had considered 13 weeks in a job to be "sustained" employment, saying it was too short. |
| The report said: "Despite high employment levels many people cycle between work and benefits." | The report said: "Despite high employment levels many people cycle between work and benefits." |
| Instead of following the diktat of Whitehall, providers will focus on the needs of the person in front of them James Purnell | Instead of following the diktat of Whitehall, providers will focus on the needs of the person in front of them James Purnell |
| Mr Purnell announced a "commissioning strategy" at a conference in London, which will see more private companies and voluntary groups involved in finding work for people on benefits. | Mr Purnell announced a "commissioning strategy" at a conference in London, which will see more private companies and voluntary groups involved in finding work for people on benefits. |
| It acts on recommendations from an earlier review by investment banker David Freud. | It acts on recommendations from an earlier review by investment banker David Freud. |
| New contractors are expected to be offered incentives for getting people into work for at least six months, with further incentives planned in the future for increasing it to 18 months. | New contractors are expected to be offered incentives for getting people into work for at least six months, with further incentives planned in the future for increasing it to 18 months. |
| Paid by results | Paid by results |
| In return, they will get larger contracts which last up to seven years - the current average is three years. | In return, they will get larger contracts which last up to seven years - the current average is three years. |
| Mr Purnell said the new system would be a more personalised one, designed around each individual's needs and would be aimed at people who have been unemployed or on incapacity benefit for a long time. | Mr Purnell said the new system would be a more personalised one, designed around each individual's needs and would be aimed at people who have been unemployed or on incapacity benefit for a long time. |
| Asked if he was happy for people to get rich helping the unemployed, Purnell said yes BBC political editor Nick Robinson class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2008/02/make_a_million.html">Read Nick's thoughts in full | |
| "Instead of following the diktat of Whitehall, providers will focus on the needs of the person in front of them," he said. | "Instead of following the diktat of Whitehall, providers will focus on the needs of the person in front of them," he said. |
| "Instead of receiving grants for service they will be paid by results and instead of telling providers how to do their jobs we will hold them accountable for what they do." | "Instead of receiving grants for service they will be paid by results and instead of telling providers how to do their jobs we will hold them accountable for what they do." |
| But shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling said the government was trying to "steal Conservative language on welfare reform". | But shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling said the government was trying to "steal Conservative language on welfare reform". |
| 'Waste of talent' | 'Waste of talent' |
| "We've set out very clear and very detailed plans for welfare reform based on the experience in other countries, a very full package," he said. | "We've set out very clear and very detailed plans for welfare reform based on the experience in other countries, a very full package," he said. |
| "Gordon Brown is tinkering around the edges - a bit of reform here, a bit of participation by the private sector, a slight toughening of sanctions. Nothing like the scale of radical change we would need." | "Gordon Brown is tinkering around the edges - a bit of reform here, a bit of participation by the private sector, a slight toughening of sanctions. Nothing like the scale of radical change we would need." |
| Mr Freud says most claimants should be looking for work | Mr Freud says most claimants should be looking for work |
| And Labour's former welfare minister Frank Field welcomed some of the package but told the BBC the potential to expand the role of job centres, which he said had more local knowledge and expertise, had been overlooked. | And Labour's former welfare minister Frank Field welcomed some of the package but told the BBC the potential to expand the role of job centres, which he said had more local knowledge and expertise, had been overlooked. |
| "One of the reforms I wanted was actually for each of these local offices, if they wished to be, to opt as cooperative companies that would have their own budgets," he said. | "One of the reforms I wanted was actually for each of these local offices, if they wished to be, to opt as cooperative companies that would have their own budgets," he said. |
| Job cuts | Job cuts |
| For the Liberal Democrats Danny Alexander told BBC News he was concerned the government were giving a licence to "bring in big multinationals from overseas". | For the Liberal Democrats Danny Alexander told BBC News he was concerned the government were giving a licence to "bring in big multinationals from overseas". |
| He said: "I would like to see many of those local voluntary and private organisations who are making a real success of getting people back into work given much more scope to expand, to work locally, rather than being potentially pushed aside by big foreign providers." | He said: "I would like to see many of those local voluntary and private organisations who are making a real success of getting people back into work given much more scope to expand, to work locally, rather than being potentially pushed aside by big foreign providers." |
| Meanwhile the Department for Work and Pensions has announced 12,000 job cuts over the next three years - due to spending restrictions. It has already cut 30,000 posts since 2005. | Meanwhile the Department for Work and Pensions has announced 12,000 job cuts over the next three years - due to spending restrictions. It has already cut 30,000 posts since 2005. |
| The Public and Commercial Services Union said it would mean 200 offices, including job centres, would close in England and Wales. | The Public and Commercial Services Union said it would mean 200 offices, including job centres, would close in England and Wales. |
| Its general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "These plans for job cuts and privatisation are purely about crude cost cutting and will do nothing to improve service delivery to some of the most disadvantaged in society." | Its general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "These plans for job cuts and privatisation are purely about crude cost cutting and will do nothing to improve service delivery to some of the most disadvantaged in society." |
| Have you been affected by this story? Are you starting work again after a long period of unemployment? Send us your comments using the form below: | Have you been affected by this story? Are you starting work again after a long period of unemployment? Send us your comments using the form below: |