UK NEWS

SKILLS KEY TO BROWN WELFARE REFORM

Wednesday January 2,2008

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Gordon Brown is due to map out the future of the welfare system, insisting a new skills-based approach is crucial to tackle the challenges of the coming decades.

The Prime Minister and Peter Hain, the Work and Pensions Secretary, will publish a document taking stock of the achievements of the New Deal over the past 10 years and addressing how it now needs to be adapted.

In a foreword to the publication, marking the 10th anniversary of Labour's welfare-to-work programme, Mr Brown said the Government's whole approach had to "move on" to refocus on individuals' employability and skills.

"In future the best welfare will no longer be the benefits you have today but the skills you gain for tomorrow," Mr Brown wrote.

"Rights and responsibilities will remain the cornerstone of our philosophy. But we reject the failed approach of simply cutting benefits and hoping for the best, and instead draw on the best practice from what has worked in Britain and overseas.

"We will combine tough sanctions for those who refuse to work or train with better and more targeted support for those most in need to give them the skills and advice they need to get back on to the jobs ladder.

"And for those on incapacity benefits, we will focus on capability and what people can do, not on disability and what they cannot do."

The announcement will also say that cash incentives will be offered to New Deal participants who complete training to improve their skills, according to newspaper reports.

The Government, employers and the private and public sectors will meet at a conference at the end of this month to discuss ways of taking forward the new priorities.

ANOTHER HEADLINE GRABBING STATEMENT

02.01.08, 5:18pm

Just another NU Labour headline-grabbing statement by Pa McBroone. As the UK economy slows down during 2008, and it will. Mr Brown and Mr Darling, the Chancellor will not have very much room to manouver as far as more 'Revolution' in 'Restructuring' pubic service yet again!!

One wonders if they read the 'Financial Times' and its rather gloomy report into economic activity since the US Sub-Prime mortagage blow up. But at home, concerns centre on the limited ability of the government to mitigate any slowdown because it was still running a large deficit when the economy was performing strongly between 2004 and 2007.

Martin Weale, director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, said: “The public finances are in very poor shape . . . HM Treasury has managed several years of self-delusion. No doubt it will explain that it did not foresee the credit crisis and use this as an excuse.”

With inflationary pressures likely to be evident in the first half of 2008, the majority view was that life had got much tougher for the Bank of England, particularly since banks’ unwillingness to lend had reduced the ability of the Bank to influence monetary conditions.

Thats just it. Nu Labour are in a permanent delusion about all sort of things. So what of the future -- probably Tax hikes later on with the possibilty of Alistair Darling going cap in hand to the IMF and World Bank for 'bail out loans'.
:)

• Posted by: Uncle_Vanya • Report Comment

THE FACE SAYS IT ALL

02.01.08, 4:57pm

Mc Broons face shows it all.This face is one of total failure.He has never had one sound idea in that trotski head of his,since he decided to become the failed minister of greed.Broons best policy would be just to shut up,and sliver back under the stone he hid under while scheming his way into no 10.

• Posted by: banachech • Report Comment

SKILLS? WHERE ARE THE JOBS?

02.01.08, 4:56pm

i am 47 and spent more than 20 years working in the city.My last company closed leaving me on the dole.I injured my back at the gym and 18 months later i want to work.the only training offered to me at the jobcentre is .....Bricklaying!
I am registered with many agencies and several of them have told me that i am too old , over-qualified and as i have been out of work then this would be viewed unfavouably.so what am i to do?I have a professional diploma and experience so what is training going to do for me?I cant blame Brown for everything.In this country but his tax credit brainchild means that employers all want to pay peanuts.wages will never go up because employers just offer as little as possible and the tax payer pays the rest

• Posted by: bofl • Report Comment

WRONG

02.01.08, 3:13pm

Gord is totally wrong about skills. Unemployed people mostly already have skills , whether from previous jobs or from training courses they have been persuaded or forced to take part in while out of work.

Unemployed people need jobs, not more and more skills. More skills will not create more job vacancies.

New Labour need public support if they are to stay in power. Making brainless policy statements is not the best way to foster public support.

• Posted by: Camerton • Report Comment

WHAT I HAVE NOTICED

02.01.08, 11:17am

I suppose most of us now know what Gordon Brown looks like. Why accompany this article with a close up of his face? What has Gordon Brown's face got to do with Welfare Reform? Was he talking about Welfare Reform when the photograph was taken?

• Posted by: algorithm • Report Comment