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Tories outline plans for jobless Tories urge jobs for prisoners
(about 4 hours later)
The Conservatives are to set out a raft of proposals aimed at reforming Britain's social security system. Inmates leaving jail should be brought back into work quickly to reduce the risk of them returning to crime, under Tory plans to shake-up benefits.
Unveiling the proposals, shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling will accuse Gordon Brown of using migration as a way of avoiding reform. Shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling says getting jobs for prisoners is an "important part" of dealing with the issue of reoffending.
In a speech in London later, he will detail plans to make unemployed under-21s take part in programmes of intensive work-related activities. In a speech in London he also accuses Gordon Brown of using migration as a way of avoiding welfare reform.
A government spokesman described the proposal as a "waste of public cash". The Department of Work and Pensions says the plans "simply don't stack up".
'Entrenched poverty' In his speech at the Centre for Policy Studies in London, Mr Grayling will call for action to help unemployed people "break out of a cycle of under-achievement".
Addressing an audience at the Centre of Policy Studies, Mr Grayling will also propose mandatory participation in back-to-work programmes for prisoners leaving jail and English lessons for those whose lack of language skills are stopping them from finding work. 'Language barriers'
Mr Grayling will argue that London has enjoyed a decade of prosperity during which "there really should have been a job for everyone" but the city has instead seen pockets of entrenched poverty and welfare dependency persist. He will also propose mandatory participation in back-to-work programmes for prisoners leaving jail and English lessons for those whose lack of language skills are stopping them from finding work.
Meanwhile, he says government financial projections have operated under the assumption that workers will come from abroad to fill vacancies in the British economy.
Why on earth are we paying out vast amounts of money to keep people out of work, when jobs are there and being filled by people from overseas? Chris GraylingWhy on earth are we paying out vast amounts of money to keep people out of work, when jobs are there and being filled by people from overseas? Chris Grayling
Mr Grayling will say: "I think Gordon Brown has used the influx of migrant workers as a way of ducking the issue of welfare reform and, as a result, has left millions of people stranded in poverty who could and should have been helped back to work over the past decade." Private and voluntary sector agencies who provide support to get people back into work, will also be expected to include English language coaching in their services, he said.
He will ask: "Why on earth are we paying out vast amounts of money to keep people out of work, when jobs are there and being filled by people from overseas? Why has the government stood idly by while such an absurd situation develops?" "We will make it mandatory for everyone leaving a custodial or community sentence, who doesn't have a job to go to, to join a structured return-to-work programme on the day of their release," he said.
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman denied Mr Grayling's claims, saying: "This simply doesn't stack up. "Reoffending is one of the big challenges we face in our criminal justice system.
"There are one million fewer people on key out-of-work benefits since 1997, and the claimant unemployment rate is at its lowest since April 1975." "Getting offenders back into work quickly is one important part of dealing with the challenge."
He said employment rates for some ethnic minorities was far below the national average, with government research citing language barriers as "one of the factors".
'Absurd situation'
"The contracting structure we establish for the back-to-work providers will reflect the need for basic language training as an essential part of getting those people back to work."
Mr Grayling will argue that London has enjoyed a decade of prosperity during which "there really should have been a job for everyone" but the city has instead seen pockets of entrenched poverty and welfare dependency persist.
He says government financial projections have operated under the assumption that workers will come from abroad to fill vacancies in the British economy.
"I think Gordon Brown has used the influx of migrant workers as a way of ducking the issue of welfare reform and, as a result, has left millions of people stranded in poverty who could and should have been helped back to work over the past decade," he will say.
"Why on earth are we paying out vast amounts of money to keep people out of work, when jobs are there and being filled by people from overseas? Why has the government stood idly by while such an absurd situation develops?"
'Waste of cash'
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman denied Mr Grayling's claims, saying: "This simply doesn't stack up. "There are one million fewer people on key out-of-work benefits since 1997, and the claimant unemployment rate is at its lowest since April 1975."
He added that there were 600,000 job vacancies in the economy and that the government was implementing radical welfare reforms to ensure that people who could work, did work - including changes to incapacity benefit criteria.He added that there were 600,000 job vacancies in the economy and that the government was implementing radical welfare reforms to ensure that people who could work, did work - including changes to incapacity benefit criteria.
Under the Tory proposals, anyone under 21 who is unemployed for three months would be sent for an intensive programme of work-related activity.Under the Tory proposals, anyone under 21 who is unemployed for three months would be sent for an intensive programme of work-related activity.
If they were still jobless after a year they would be moved to a full-time 12-month community work programme, with those who turn down a job losing their benefits.If they were still jobless after a year they would be moved to a full-time 12-month community work programme, with those who turn down a job losing their benefits.
Chris Grayling outlines the Conservative proposals for employment 'boot camps'Chris Grayling outlines the Conservative proposals for employment 'boot camps'
A spokesman for Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell said as most young people find a job within six months, the three-month scheme would be a "waste of public cash".A spokesman for Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell said as most young people find a job within six months, the three-month scheme would be a "waste of public cash".
"In April this year, 210,700 18-24 year olds claimed for up to six months while only 30,700 claimed for 6-12 months, falling to only 6,000 after 12 months," he said."In April this year, 210,700 18-24 year olds claimed for up to six months while only 30,700 claimed for 6-12 months, falling to only 6,000 after 12 months," he said.
At present, under-24s who have been claiming Jobseekers' Allowance for six months or more must take part in the government's New Deal programme for young people.At present, under-24s who have been claiming Jobseekers' Allowance for six months or more must take part in the government's New Deal programme for young people.
This scheme, which involves a personal mentor and work experience, helps young people look and prepare for work.This scheme, which involves a personal mentor and work experience, helps young people look and prepare for work.
Outlining his plans to stop ex-offenders going straight from prison to benefits, Mr Grayling will announce mandatory return-to-work programmes for all prison leavers who do not have jobs to go to, starting on the day of their release.
He will say: "Re-offending is one of the big challenges we face in our criminal justice system. Getting offenders back into work quickly is one important part of dealing with the challenge."