Activists concerned over welfare reform

Campaigners have told Community Care that the welfare reform green paper, which was expected to be published this week, has been delayed.

Media reports alleged that prime minister Tony Blair wanted the proposed levels of incapacity benefit reduced and limits put on the period for which it could be claimed.

John Knight, head of policy and campaigns at disability charity Leonard Cheshire, said he had believed the reforms were aimed at helping disabled people back to work, but if the reports were true he was convinced they were instead driven by a need to save money.

The Department for Work and Pensions denied there had been a definite date for publication.