Freud report orders more single parents to find work

Lone parents will be expected to seek work when their youngest child reaches 12 rather than the current 16, <A href="http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=268520=2 “>the government said today.

The much-trailed idea was included in David Freud’s government-commissioned report on welfare reform, which also proposed using voluntary and private sector contractors to help long-term claimants into work. Financial incentives would be given to organisations to support those who are hardest to help.

The government said it would consider Freud’s recommendations “very seriously”.

On the proposal on single parents, welfare reform minister Jim Murphy said: “If we can offer lone parents greater levels of support – whether it is retraining, child care support or help with finding the right job – it is right that we debate whether they should have a greater responsibility to look for work when their child reaches an appropriate age.”

Under Freud’s blueprint, Jobcentre Plus’s role would be confined to supporting those who have recently started claiming benefits and assessing how much support claimants will need to return to work.