§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on workfare. [38682]
§ Mr. ForthThe term "workfare" can mean many things. As I understand, it usually refers to a universal compulsory work creation programme. We must be clear that the Government cannot create jobs; only the economy can do that. The Department's priority is to get unemployed people into jobs, and we have a wide range of provision to help them.
Unemployed people must make every effort to get work and it is right to require them, if necessary, to undertake appropriate action to do so. The Government have always made it clear that they do not rule out the use of targeted compulsory work experience programmes if it is shown that these help people back to work. We believe it is right to require activity that is focused firmly on what is most appropriate to the individual's circumstances.