The government announced a package of reforms to the system of benefits and job-seeking support, to be implemented over four years – with the bulk of the measures taking effect in 2008 and 2009. The reforms were designed to move hundreds of thousands of people on benefits away from being 'passive recipients of cash handouts' to job-seekers actively seeking and preparing for work. The presumption would be that lone parents on income support who were able to work would be required to actively seek work once their youngest child was 12 or over from October 2008, 10 or over from October 2009, and 7 or over from October 2010. From October 2009, major reforms of the New Deal would mean that job-seekers who struggled to find work after 12 months would be referred to specialist intensive help from private, public, and voluntary sector providers: these providers would get longer and larger contracts, and would be paid on the basis of results. The government published an opinion research report which it said showed popular support for the belief that 'individuals should take responsibility for themselves wherever possible'. It also published an analysis of employment support for job-seekers, which set out the evidence underlying its proposals for an 'improved' jobseeker's allowance and flexible New Deal design.
Source: Ready for Work: Full employment in our generation, Cm 7290, Department for Work and Pensions, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Suzanne Hall and Nick Pettigrew, The Challenges Facing DWP in the Future: Deliberative research with the public, Research Report 476, Department for Work and Pensions | Flexible New Deal: Evidence paper, Department for Work and Pensions
Links: Report | Opinion research report | New Deal evidence report | Hansard | DWP press release | TUC press release | CPAG press release | Barnardos press release | Mind press release | Liberal Democrats press release | Guardian report | BBC report | Personnel Today report
Date: 2007-Dec
The government announced a package of reforms to the benefits system, aimed at reducing the number of people who were capable of work but claiming benefits. After six months of claiming jobseeker's allowance, it would be mandatory to undergo a full skills 'health check' by a new adult advancement service, which would refer individuals for training. The government proposed to remove disincentives for jobseeker's allowance claimants to study more than 16 hours a week. The Pathways to Work programme for incapacity benefit claimants, including regular interviews with advisers, would be extended to all claimants under the age of 25.
Source: Opportunity, Employment and Progression: Making skills work, Cm 7288, Department for Work and Pensions and Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Hansard(1) | Hansard (2) | Shelter press release | Scope press release | CBI press release | Liberal Democrats press release | Telegraph report | Guardian report | FT report | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Nov
An article said that public policy towards informal employment remained heavily embedded in a repressive approach, with deterrence measures continuing to dominate the policy landscape.
Source: Colin Williams, 'Tackling informal employment: a critical review of the UK public policy approach', Social and Public Policy Review, Volume 1 Issue 2
Links: Article
Date: 2007-Oct
A report by a committee of MPs examined government plans to improve the co-ordination of employment and skills policies so that people who were low-skilled and out of work have a better chance of finding and keeping employment. It criticized the Green Paper for failing to respond to the Freud report on benefit reform.
Source: Full Employment and World Class Skills: Responding to the challenges, Eighth Report (Session 2006-07), HC 939, House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report | Liberal Democrats press release
Date: 2007-Oct
The Jobcentre Plus agency published its annual report for 2006-07.
Source: Annual Report and Accounts 2006-2007, HC 712, Jobcentre Plus/Department for Work and Pensions, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Sep
A think-tank report examined the strategies used in the United Kingdom (and the United States of America) to boost employment rates. It called for a more generous working tax credit to increase the incentive to enter employment, but also tougher work-seeking requirements for those on jobseeker's allowance (including lone mothers) and incapacity benefit.
Source: Jennifer Moses and Mark Bell, Working on Welfare, CentreForum (020 7340 1160)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Sep
A think-tank report said that working life was 'significantly better' after 10 years of Labour government, due to its record in maintaining economic growth and low unemployment, while legislating for greater justice at work through valuable new rights for employees.
Source: Ian Brinkley, David Coats and Stephen Overell, 7 Out Of 10: Labour under Labour 1997-2007, Work Foundation (0870 165 6700)
Links: Report | Work Foundation press release | FT report
Date: 2007-Jul
A report set out the case for devolving greater responsibility for employment and skills issues, including welfare to work, to local authorities.
Source: Welfare Reform: The case for devolution, Local Government Association (020 7664 3000)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Jun
The new Prime Minster (Gordon Brown MP) announced that the Department of Trade and Industry would be disbanded. Most of its functions would be transferred to a new Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 28 June 2007, columns 36-40WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | Downing Street press release | DBERR press release | FT report
Date: 2007-Jun
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on its employment strategy. It said that its welfare to work policies were recognized, both nationally and internationally, as highly effective. The New Deal and Pathways to Work programmes had extended employment opportunities to groups who had previously been left behind. But it recognized that there was still more to do to help the most disadvantaged individuals and families.
Source: The Government's Employment Strategy: Government Response to the Committee's Third Report of Session 2006?07, First Special Report (Session 2006-07), HC 492, House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Response | MPs report
Date: 2007-May
A think-tank report said that different types of private equity buy-outs had markedly different effects on jobs, wages, and the quality of working life. Private equity firms that took over companies and brought in new management teams were likely to cut jobs and depress employees' wages: but where an existing management team helped take a company into private equity in a management buy-out, jobs tended to increase and the impact on wages was smaller.
Source: Phil Thornton, Inside the Dark Box: Shedding light on private equity, Work Foundation (0870 165 6700)
Links: Report | Work Foundation press release
Date: 2007-Mar
The Prime Minister said that employees needed to adapt quickly to the needs of their employers in order to keep the 'knowledge economy' moving. In return, employees should benefit from family-friendly hours and workplace rights. The government's role should be to encourage skills training while protecting workers' rights.
Source: Speech by Tony Blair MP (Prime Minister), 30 March 2007
Links: Text of speech | Downing Street press release | CIPD press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2007-Mar
A government report said that Scotland could achieve an employment rate in excess of the United Kingdom target of 80 per cent, possibly nearer 82 per cent.
Source: Scotland: Employment and Prosperity, Department for Work and Pensions (020 7962 8176)
Links: Report | BBC report
Date: 2007-Jan