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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
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| Benefit reforms 'mean fair deal' | Benefit reforms 'mean fair deal' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Proposals to force benefit claimants, including single mothers, to prepare for work or face losing payments are a "fair deal", the government has said. | Proposals to force benefit claimants, including single mothers, to prepare for work or face losing payments are a "fair deal", the government has said. |
| People will have to attend interviews and do some form of work, including community service, or face sanctions under plans unveiled in the Commons. | People will have to attend interviews and do some form of work, including community service, or face sanctions under plans unveiled in the Commons. |
| Minister James Purnell said the proposals would "transform lives" and lift more children out of poverty. | Minister James Purnell said the proposals would "transform lives" and lift more children out of poverty. |
| The Tories pledged to support the plans but accused Labour of past timidity. | The Tories pledged to support the plans but accused Labour of past timidity. |
| Conservative work and pensions spokesman Chris Grayling said Labour had had 11 years to make changes to the benefit system. | Conservative work and pensions spokesman Chris Grayling said Labour had had 11 years to make changes to the benefit system. |
| The Lib Dems said proposals to encourage single parents with very young children to prepare for work were "a step too far". | The Lib Dems said proposals to encourage single parents with very young children to prepare for work were "a step too far". |
| 'Changes lives' | 'Changes lives' |
| Mr Purnell was outlining details of the welfare reform white paper - the final stage before proposals are introduced in the form of a bill - telling MPs that it was based on the principle that "virtually everyone has to do something in return for their benefits". | Mr Purnell was outlining details of the welfare reform white paper - the final stage before proposals are introduced in the form of a bill - telling MPs that it was based on the principle that "virtually everyone has to do something in return for their benefits". |
| He said the bill would incorporate many of the recommendations of last week's Gregg Review. | He said the bill would incorporate many of the recommendations of last week's Gregg Review. |
| This recommended that everyone on benefits, apart from the severely ill or disabled, some carers and parents of children under one, should either be actively looking for or preparing themselves for work. | This recommended that everyone on benefits, apart from the severely ill or disabled, some carers and parents of children under one, should either be actively looking for or preparing themselves for work. |
| What makes the proposals really significant is that they represent a consensus between the Labour and Tory leaderships Nick RobinsonBBC political editor Read Nick's blog in fullQ&A: Welfare reform | What makes the proposals really significant is that they represent a consensus between the Labour and Tory leaderships Nick RobinsonBBC political editor Read Nick's blog in fullQ&A: Welfare reform |
| The government's plans - which are likely to be resisted by some Labour MPs - will include penalties for people who turn down reasonable job offers or interviews. | The government's plans - which are likely to be resisted by some Labour MPs - will include penalties for people who turn down reasonable job offers or interviews. |
| Mr Purnell said he agreed with the "vision" of the Gregg report and last year's review by David Freud who said private and voluntary groups should be paid to help get people back to work. | Mr Purnell said he agreed with the "vision" of the Gregg report and last year's review by David Freud who said private and voluntary groups should be paid to help get people back to work. |
| "It is a fair deal," he said of the proposals. | "It is a fair deal," he said of the proposals. |
| "More support for higher expectations. It is a deal which has always underpinned the welfare state." | "More support for higher expectations. It is a deal which has always underpinned the welfare state." |
| 'Repeat offenders' | 'Repeat offenders' |
| Ahead of his Commons statement Mr Purnell told the BBC leaving people on benefits was "actually the cruel thing to do because it's bad for them and their families". | |
| Support would be available for those who wanted to find work but for the "very small group of repeat offenders" would face "clear financial sanctions" where appropriate. | Support would be available for those who wanted to find work but for the "very small group of repeat offenders" would face "clear financial sanctions" where appropriate. |
| People's views on benefits reform | People's views on benefits reform |
| Making people "live up to their obligations" had always been at the heart of the welfare state since it was created, said Mr Purnell. | |
| But he stressed that single parents would not be forced to seek work unless there was adequate childcare available to them. | But he stressed that single parents would not be forced to seek work unless there was adequate childcare available to them. |
| "We can't afford to waste taxpayers' money on people who are playing the system, but most of all we can't afford to waste people's talent and that's why we need a welfare state that is active and helps people back into work." | "We can't afford to waste taxpayers' money on people who are playing the system, but most of all we can't afford to waste people's talent and that's why we need a welfare state that is active and helps people back into work." |
| 'Dismantling welfare state' | |
| The Conservatives are likely to support the proposals as they say they suggested them almost a year ago. | The Conservatives are likely to support the proposals as they say they suggested them almost a year ago. |
| Mr Grayling said he believed the reforms were "mostly right for Britain" but accused Labour of wasting past opportunities. | Mr Grayling said he believed the reforms were "mostly right for Britain" but accused Labour of wasting past opportunities. |
| "For 10 years the government has been telling us it has the policies to solve the problem. But it hasn't worked. Britain really now needs a fresh direction," he added. | "For 10 years the government has been telling us it has the policies to solve the problem. But it hasn't worked. Britain really now needs a fresh direction," he added. |
| Lib Dem work and pensions spokesman Jenny Willott said: "We need drastic reform of the welfare state, but this should be achieved without isolating vulnerable groups". | |
| HAVE YOUR SAYI think this move is 10 years too late. The government should have acted on this issue years agoLes Challoner, St HelensSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYI think this move is 10 years too late. The government should have acted on this issue years agoLes Challoner, St HelensSend us your comments |
| But the government faces opposition from Labour backbenchers like John McDonnell who said the government was "dismantling the welfare state". | |
| The Parkinson's Disease Society, which said the illness was commonly misunderstood because of its "fluctuating and unpredictable nature" and urged ministers to ensure those making decisions to impose sanctions were properly trained to deal with complex conditions like Parkinson's. | |
| Plaid Cymru MP Hywel Williams said many of the proposals seemed to be "inappropriate and unworkable", especially during the economic downturn. | |
| 'Half-baked' | |
| He said fewer than 20,000 job vacancies were advertised in Wales while there were 330,000 working age people on benefit. | |
| "Simply put, there aren't enough jobs for everyone and the situation seems to be worsening," he said. | |
| For the Scottish National Party, John Mason MP said the reforms risked demonising the unemployed. | |
| "While we will look cautiously and constructively at the wider proposals, half-baked and draconian reforms are not the answer," he said. | |
| Ministers have made welfare reform a centrepiece of their legislative proposals over the next year, arguing that to abandon such a course of action in the face of a recession would be wrong. | Ministers have made welfare reform a centrepiece of their legislative proposals over the next year, arguing that to abandon such a course of action in the face of a recession would be wrong. |