HC Deb 30 June 1997 vol 297 cc14-5
13. Mr. Clapham

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the Government's policy for getting young people off benefit and into work. [4347]

Mr. Field

The Government believe that work is preferable to welfare. Shortly, the House will be given details of our plans to offer real opportunities to 250,000 young people who have been unemployed for six months or more.

Mr. Clapham

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that reply. Does he agree that one of the saddest aspects of the former Government's policy was their failure to give opportunities to young people and that, as a result, between 500,000 and 600,000 young people are now out of work? For the benefit of the Conservatives, will he reiterate his determination to ensure that young people are given opportunities and their life chances are improved?

Mr. Field

I willingly give that commitment to my hon. Friend. I hope that the House will appreciate that, when the plans for moving people from welfare to work are unveiled, we will offer that group of claimants an opportunity that no other Government have ever offered them. Because we regard every individual as important, they will all be given four options. Because we will meet that part of our commitment, the Prime Minister's view that there should be no fifth option of remaining on benefit will also be part of the package.

Mr. Duncan Smith

Does the Minister of State agree that the complexity of his welfare-to-work programme gives scope for wider benefit fraud? Will he confirm that he has asked his officials to consider that problem; that they have advised that there is greater scope; and that the arrangements to prevent that would cost extra money?

Mr. Field

I, too, welcome the hon. Gentleman to his post and look forward to his using his considerable skills to develop our welfare reform programme.

Given the lead the Social Security Committee took on fraud in the previous Parliament, is he not trying to teach his grandmother to suck eggs?