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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Hardcore jobless face benefit cut | Hardcore jobless face benefit cut |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| More long-term unemployed people could have their benefits cut - or stopped altogether - under new proposals. | More long-term unemployed people could have their benefits cut - or stopped altogether - under new proposals. |
| Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton will say in a speech on Monday that a "hardcore" of benefit claimants are not competing with east European migrants. | |
| Mr Hutton says he wants to tackle the "can work but won't work" culture he claims exists in parts of Britain. | Mr Hutton says he wants to tackle the "can work but won't work" culture he claims exists in parts of Britain. |
| But the Conservatives and some Labour MPs have questioned what stricter sanctions would achieve. | |
| Government figures show 950,000 people claimed Jobseekers' Allowance last month. About 100,000 of them spent six of the past seven years on benefits. | Government figures show 950,000 people claimed Jobseekers' Allowance last month. About 100,000 of them spent six of the past seven years on benefits. |
| Mr Hutton will announce a review to try to move people from benefits to work. | Mr Hutton will announce a review to try to move people from benefits to work. |
| In his speech at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) in London, the minister is expected to compare the long-term unemployed with new migrants to Britain. | In his speech at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) in London, the minister is expected to compare the long-term unemployed with new migrants to Britain. |
| 'Economic migration' | 'Economic migration' |
| He is expected to say: "The next challenge we face is to ensure the hardcore of 'can work but won't work' benefit claimants take advantage of the opportunities out there and compete for jobs alongside growing numbers of migrants who arrive in Britain specifically to look for work rather than to settle for the long term." | He is expected to say: "The next challenge we face is to ensure the hardcore of 'can work but won't work' benefit claimants take advantage of the opportunities out there and compete for jobs alongside growing numbers of migrants who arrive in Britain specifically to look for work rather than to settle for the long term." |
| If workers from Poland can take advantage of these vacancies in our major cities - why can't our own people do so as well? John Hutton, Work and Pensions Secretary | If workers from Poland can take advantage of these vacancies in our major cities - why can't our own people do so as well? John Hutton, Work and Pensions Secretary |
| There was no shortage of vacancies for low-skilled workers, even in areas of relatively high unemployment, he will argue. | There was no shortage of vacancies for low-skilled workers, even in areas of relatively high unemployment, he will argue. |
| "Economic migration from the EU has only served to highlight this issue. | "Economic migration from the EU has only served to highlight this issue. |
| "If workers from Poland can take advantage of these vacancies in our major cities - why can't our own people do so as well?," he will say. | "If workers from Poland can take advantage of these vacancies in our major cities - why can't our own people do so as well?," he will say. |
| He suggested there could be moves to cut - or even stop - benefits for those who did not do enough to find work. | He suggested there could be moves to cut - or even stop - benefits for those who did not do enough to find work. |
| At the moment, only a very small percentage of jobseekers face such sanctions. | At the moment, only a very small percentage of jobseekers face such sanctions. |
| "We need to ask whether we should expect more from some in return for the help we provide," Mr Hutton will say. | "We need to ask whether we should expect more from some in return for the help we provide," Mr Hutton will say. |
| 'Consequences' | 'Consequences' |
| He said people had to take "more active steps to get back into the labour market" and become more involved in programmes that could help them get a job. | He said people had to take "more active steps to get back into the labour market" and become more involved in programmes that could help them get a job. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Why should I be taxed to support someone who will not get a job? Glenn Jones, Oxford Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Why should I be taxed to support someone who will not get a job? Glenn Jones, Oxford Send us your comments |
| "And for those who won't do so, then there should be consequences, including less benefit or no benefit at all," he will tell the IPPR. | "And for those who won't do so, then there should be consequences, including less benefit or no benefit at all," he will tell the IPPR. |
| But initiatives which compel people off benefits may face resistance from the Tories and some Labour MPs. | |
| More than half a million arrived from Poland and other countries since 2004, far more than the Home Office prediction of about 13,000. | More than half a million arrived from Poland and other countries since 2004, far more than the Home Office prediction of about 13,000. |