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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Work for welfare plans stepped up | Work for welfare plans stepped up |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Almost everyone on benefits would have to prepare themselves for work or face sanctions under proposals in a report commissioned by the government. | Almost everyone on benefits would have to prepare themselves for work or face sanctions under proposals in a report commissioned by the government. |
| Welfare expert Professor Paul Gregg is to call for almost everyone to expect to do something in return for benefits. | Welfare expert Professor Paul Gregg is to call for almost everyone to expect to do something in return for benefits. |
| Only those with severe illnesses, carers and lone parents with children aged under one would not be affected. | Only those with severe illnesses, carers and lone parents with children aged under one would not be affected. |
| Ministers will consider stopping benefits for up to four weeks if a claimant refuses to attend interviews. | Ministers will consider stopping benefits for up to four weeks if a claimant refuses to attend interviews. |
| The proposals will be published on Tuesday in a welfare reform report commissioned by Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell in August. | |
| Scandinavian system | Scandinavian system |
| They have not been adopted by the government, but are likely to indicate the direction of reform to be announced in Wednesday's Queen's Speech. | They have not been adopted by the government, but are likely to indicate the direction of reform to be announced in Wednesday's Queen's Speech. |
| The government wants parents of young children and people on incapacity benefits to prepare to re-enter work. | The government wants parents of young children and people on incapacity benefits to prepare to re-enter work. |
| Officials say the report's goal is close to the Scandinavian system, where there is more universal childcare provision than in the UK, combined with bigger obligations to work. | Officials say the report's goal is close to the Scandinavian system, where there is more universal childcare provision than in the UK, combined with bigger obligations to work. |
| Measures could include better childcare support for parents or help for those on incapacity benefit to find a job they are capable of doing. | Measures could include better childcare support for parents or help for those on incapacity benefit to find a job they are capable of doing. |
| Ministers are also said to be considering a swift escalation of sanctions for those who fail to turn up to meetings and interviews. | Ministers are also said to be considering a swift escalation of sanctions for those who fail to turn up to meetings and interviews. |
| A first transgression would merit a written warning and the claimant would thereafter lose a week's jobseeker's allowance each time they did not comply with conditions. | A first transgression would merit a written warning and the claimant would thereafter lose a week's jobseeker's allowance each time they did not comply with conditions. |