Welfare reform needs effective sanctions

During a debate following the statement on Welfare Reform yesterday Anne Main challenged the Minister about the ultimate sanctions for those who refuse to work.

During a debate following the statement on Welfare Reform yesterday, Anne Main, MP for St Albans, challenged the Minister about the ultimate sanctions for those who refuse to work.

The Minster set out a range of plans aiming to make unemployed people prove they are taking steps to get back to work or face a cut in benefits.

During the statement, Anne said:

"I noted with interest the Secretary of State's statement that the sanction for those not meeting the conditions would be having to work for their benefits. What will be the ultimate sanction for anyone who refuses to work for their benefits or to participate in a scheme? Who will monitor how well the schemes are working, if it is a private or public provider giving feedback on whether people are complying and getting something out of the system?"

The Minister responded:

"I hope that I can reassure the hon. Lady that sanctions are not enforced by private or voluntary providers, but by Jobcentre Plus advisers and expert decision makers. As is the case now, if people refuse to take a job, they can lose their benefits for six months-that has been in the system ever since 1911. If people fail completely to comply with the system, they lose their benefits for six months. That is the ultimate backstop, but virtually no one gets there, because people can avoid a sanction simply by ensuring that they do what is expected of them."

Upon leaving the chamber, Anne said:

"The devil will be in the detail with this scheme and I am sceptical that the Government will really be able to ensure that people are moved from benefits into gainful employment in a compulsory fashion as they seem to suggest which is why I challenged the Minister to be up front about non-compliance.

I believe that it is important that we break the cycle of worklessness. We must ensure that those can work but who choose not to are not allowed to simply get away with a slap on the wrist. If there are no meaningful consequences from not playing by the rules then these measures will be ineffectual.

Even under current regulations if a benefit claimant is resistant to seeking or accepting work their benefit can be stopped, but I am not sure that this sanction has proved effective in the past. This is why I have requested from the Government more information on the use of these sanctions as they currently stand to see how often it has been employed and to what effect. The Minister admits that 'virtually no one' feels the effect of current sanctions and this is why I am concerned that without a better system we will see little change in those who are determined to be workless.

I do hope the Government will accept, as they attempt to take things forward, that the public will not feel any real advantage from this new approach unless there are real teeth in the system to ensure people are educated and prepared for work are, above all, expected to work and not stay on benefits. Ultimately, we want to see people who are fit to work in gainful employment and we have to think about how best to bring about this result.""