Welfare State reform enters the next phase

Aug 8 2008 by Gordon Banks, MP

YOU may have seen from the news that the Labour Government at Westminster is looking at reforming the welfare system here in the UK to reward responsibility.

As someone who is heavily involved with the Department for Work and Pensions, I am keen to hear your views on this often divisive issue.

I believe that the benefits system should be based on a simple deal; more support from the state in return for greater responsibility from the individual. It is essential that we support those who are vulnerable and in need of help, but our welfare system has not always kept pace with the changes in our society.

In the 80s and 90s the Tories wrote off whole generations. Families and communities were left in poverty and dependency; and disillusioned tax payers were left to foot the bill. Incapacity Benefit left millions effectively abandoned on welfare, with no support to get healthy and no help to get back to work.

Starting with the New Deal a decade ago, Labour began recreating a welfare state where greater support is matched with greater personal responsibility. We made clear that a life on benefits when there was work was not an option. The result is that long term youth unemployment is reducing; there are a million fewer people on out of work benefits and record numbers of people in work.

Now the Government are taking the next step on this journey. They have published plans for a welfare state where no one is written off to a life on benefits and where personal responsibility is encouraged and rewarded.

Key aspects of this are providing more support for disabled people and helping one million people off incapacity benefits through personalised help with their health condition and support to get back to work.

You can read the full details of the proposals at www.dwp.gov.uk/ but I want to hear your views on what support we should give to people who get benefits and what things we should ask for in return.