Benefits farce of New Deal exposed

More than 160,000 jobseekers on two government employment schemes
have been moved on to other benefits instead.

Government figures, revealed after a parliamentary question, show
that many unemployed people who were on jobseekers allowance, a
benefit only for those actively seeking a job, have been moved on
to other benefits with no such requirement.

The figures are for the New Deal for Young People and the enhanced
New Deal 25 Plus.

The New Deal programme aims to give unemployed people the support
they need to return to employment and is a key part of the
government’s welfare-to-work strategy.