Council tenants who do not work should seek employment or face losing their homes, the new housing minister Caroline Flint has proposed.
Council tenants who do not work should seek employment or face losing their homes, the new housing minister Caroline Flint has proposed.
In an interview with The Guardian, Ms Flint suggested new applicants for social housing should be given "commitment contracts".
In an interview with The Guardian, Ms Flint suggested new applicants for social housing should be given "committment contracts".
The scheme would not be aimed at genuine incapacity benefit claimants.
The scheme would not be aimed at genuine incapacity benefit claimants.
Half of all households paid for by benefits are without work, the Hills report published last February showed.
Half of all households paid for by benefits are without work, the Hills report published last February showed.
'Culture change'
'Culture change'
Ms Flint will discuss the issue in a speech at the Fabian Society on Tuesday, through which it is thought she hopes to start a debate on a "something for something" culture.
Ms Flint will discuss the issue in a speech at the Fabian Society on Tuesday, through which it is thought she hopes to start a debate on a "something for something" culture.
She told the Guardian: "It would be a big change of culture from the time when the council handed someone the keys and forgot about them for 30 years.
She told the Guardian: "It would be a big change of culture from the time when the council handed someone the keys and forgot about them for 30 years.
"The question we should ask of new tenants is what commitment they will make to improve their skills, find work and take the support that is available."
"The question we should ask of new tenants is what commitment they will make to improve their skills, find work and take the support that is available."
It is understood that Ms Flint, who has just moved to housing from the Department of Work and Pensions, is keen to look at the link between housing and economic inactivity.
It is understood that Ms Flint, who has just moved to housing from the Department of Work and Pensions, is keen to look at the link between housing and economic inactivity.
Living in an area where there is a concentration of unemployment can be a deterrent to finding work, she said.
Living in an area where there is a concentration of unemployment can be a deterrent to finding work, she said.
'Peer pressure'
'Peer pressure'
"If you are in a family, an estate or a neighbourhood where nobody works, that impacts on your own aspiration. It is a form of peer pressure."
"If you are in a family, an estate or a neighbourhood where nobody works, that impacts on your own aspiration. It is a form of peer pressure."
The new contracts would apply to new council tenants at first, but could be extended to existing tenants.
The new contracts would apply to new council tenants at first, but could be extended to existing tenants.
More job centres could be opened on the estates themselves to tackle pockets of joblessness.
More job centres could be opened on the estates themselves to tackle pockets of joblessness.
Ms Flint also said tenants who moved to take a job would be given priority in finding a new home.
Ms Flint also said tenants who moved to take a job would be given priority in finding a new home.
The speech will be the first made by Ms Flint in her new post.
The speech will be the first made by Ms Flint in her new post.
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