The
following quotes are taken from Policy Exchange reports
on Welfare Reform published throughout 2011.
Policy Exchange is a Conservative think tank that “has established itself not only as
the largest, but also the most influential think tank on the right”. It has
also been described as David Cameron’s “favourite think tank”. It's been run over the years, and still is, by a cadre of right-wing shitbags who've made full use of the revolving doors of power: the current chairman of Policy Exchange is Danny Finkelstein, who is also Executive Editor of The Times.
This will be a smack in the teeth if you’re a claimant, but essential
reading to understand the ideology, rhetoric and method of attack the Government is employing as it continues to dismantle/restructure the benefit system as part of a global reimposition of work. Many of the think-tank’s recommendations have, or are,
being implemented by the Government, particularly those centred on back-to-work Welfare
reform.
One of the most disturbing proposals by Policy Exchange is this:
“…Work Programme providers should be allowed to put in place schemes and measures that act as a deterrent to claiming.”
One of the most disturbing proposals by Policy Exchange is this:
“…Work Programme providers should be allowed to put in place schemes and measures that act as a deterrent to claiming.”
And of particular concern is the introduction of data profiling; the complete outsourcing of employment support to the private sector; cross-benefit sanctions; electronic sign-in at jobcentres; and electronic tracking of jobseeking activity.
I urge claimants/anti-workfare campaigners/jobcentre staff (who will face massive redundancies), who are not aware of these reports, to read these quotes and then take a look at the ridiculous evidence Policy Exchange includes in support of its recommendations to Government.
No Rights Without
Responsibility: Rebalancing the welfare state
Friday, 20 May 2011
Friday, 20 May 2011
“Evidence
suggests that the requirement to move onto these [Workfare] schemes has been
effective in increasing exits from benefits.”
“The
ambition should be that job search becomes more like the typical 35 hour week
of those in full time employment.”
“Those
claimants who do not qualify for contribution-based JSA should be required to
search for any work from day one of their claim.”
“Sanctions
need to become a stronger tool for influencing the behaviour of those who fail
to fulfil activity conditions. Instead of impacting on only one part of one
benefit, they should be more closely related to total benefit eligibility.”
“…stronger
conditionality for those without a [National Insurance] contribution record and
higher benefit levels for those who have contributed.”
“…fast-tracking
claimants to the Work Programme."
Personalised Welfare: Rethinking
employment support and Jobcentres
Friday, 16 September 2011
Friday, 16 September 2011
“We
propose that more information (such as entire claimant history, qualifications
and sanction history) should be made available to advisers to determine the
most appropriate interventions. Advisers should also be given access to other
information the government may hold on a claimant –through the NHS, the police
and the justice system, for example.”
“…we propose developing a Jobseeker Classification
Instrument (JSCI) … it can include things like family circumstances, language
skills, ethnicity, living arrangements, country of origin, transport, workplace
support needs, geographic location (especially remoteness from centres of
employment), recent work experience, homelessness, criminal record and
qualifications.”
“…we believe that the JSCI would be greatly
improved by the use of profiling data.”
“…we believe that it would be prudent to divert
people from the system in the first place. This could be done by increasing
work search requirements before benefits can be claimed.”
“…we propose that, in the long-term,
responsibility for employment support is transferred completely to the private
and voluntary sector.”
“…all
income-related, active job search claimants should be required to write a CV at
the initial point of the application process and a national CV database should
be created.”
“For a
large portion of claimants we suggest using electronic sign-ins at Jobcentres
on a fortnightly basis (with code numbers through Jobpoint stations, for
example), perhaps at changing times for claimants without childcare
responsibilities.”
“…claimants
would have a permanent record.”
“…personal targets [for Jobcentre Plus
advisers] linked to job sustainability should be used as the key basis for
performance reviews and remuneration – rather like recruitment agencies or Work
Programme providers in the private sector.”
Something for
Nothing: Reinstating conditionality for jobseekers
Monday, 17 October 2011
Monday, 17 October 2011
“We
propose removing the [3 day] waiting period and replacing it with a Required
Search requirement that stipulates that claimants have to actively seek work for two weeks to be
eligible for benefit.”
“…reviewing
the types of activities that count as ‘jobsearch activities’ and requiring more
of them to take place in order for a claimant to be eligible for benefit.”
“…Work
Programme providers should be allowed to put in place schemes and
measures that act as a deterrent to claiming.”
“Claimants
who leave the Work Programme will, under current plans, recycle back on
the main Universal Credit conditionality regime. We propose that a full-time
workfare scheme is introduced for claimants in this position who have also
been assessed as having attitudinal problems.”
“We
recommend the introduction of a points based system. Under this system, claimants
would need to build up a certain number of points a week”.
“A new
system should be introduced that is capable of tracking and monitoring
claimants’ jobseeking activity and flagging those individuals who appeared not
to be undertaking sufficient activities to meet their points target.”
