\n<\/p>\n
The government is trying to achieve several political objectives from the “Get Britain Working” White Paper.<\/p>\n
It wants to be seen to be taking welfare reform seriously and not be seen as a “soft touch” \u2013 by some voters and a more hostile tabloid press.<\/p>\n
So while overall the emphasis is on improving services to jobseekers, with more co-ordination between government agencies, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has said young people that fail to take up the opportunity of training, education or employment will face sanctions<\/a>.<\/p>\n But there is a bigger picture \u2013 the proposals are important parts of the growth jigsaw.<\/p>\n Tackling inactivity and equipping younger people with skills is seen as essential in boosting productivity and delivering the elusive prize of economic growth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n But the White Paper won’t be comprehensive.<\/p>\n Decisions on what to do about the nearly three million people who are economically inactive because of ill health won’t be taken until next year – though the White Paper may sketch out a direction of travel.<\/p>\n Kendall has said she wants to end the binary nature of the system – classifying people as fit, or unfit, to work. She wants to see more flexibility.<\/p>\n She wants to consult more on this.<\/p>\n But the snag is the chancellor has already signed up to the same scale of welfare cuts that were pencilled in by the previous Conservative government.<\/p>\n The work and pensions secretary has said on several occasions she will bring forward her own proposals \u2013 distinct from the last government.<\/p>\n It’s still not clear whether these will involve cutting the extra payments that some people currently classified as having “limited capability for work” receive.<\/p>\n With the government still under pressure over cuts to winter fuel payments<\/a>, this is another sensitive area.<\/p>\n But with the chancellor repeating at the Confederation of British Industry conference<\/a> that departments must now live within their means, it seems more difficult decisions are inevitable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n