Government’s Welfare Reform Proposals

The Government published its proposals for the reform of the welfare system yesterday. There are a range of measures to improve the current system but there are some worrying proposals that in my view will hit people hard if there are not sufficient protections in place to prevent people being penalised unfairly. At my weekly advice surgery I already see too many people who find it too difficult and complicated to gain the benefits they are entitled to.

I raised my concerns in Parliament, explaining that with 2 million unemployed, the country facing the longest and deepest recession in decades and also according to Gordon Brown a lack of affordable childcare, the Government has sacked 30,000 workers in the Department of Work and Pensions. These are the very people who are supposed to help and advise people get back into work.

If there are no jobs because of the recession, putting people under pressure and threatening to cut their benefits is pointless.

I have also questioned the Government’s priorities. This recession was caused by a small group of very rich speculators in the banks and financial insitutions who brought our economy to its knees but who have walked off with huge bonuses and massive pensions. We now know that between £20 billion to £100 billion a year of tax payments is not paid by many of these companies and individuals as a result of tax evasion and avoidance. In my view the Government should prioritise tackling this tax evasion by the rich rather than atacking the poorest in our society.

I interviewed Mark Serwatka, the General Secretary of PCS, the trade union that represents the workers in our job centres.

submitted by John on 11 Dec 2008 at 12:58