§ Mr. ToddTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to alter the limit set in 1988 on earnings allowed before such earnings are taken into account in calculations of benefits. [7239]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe Government believe that work is the best form of welfare for people of working age. Our welfare to work objectives are to provide work incentives, to reduce poverty and welfare dependency and to strike a new balance between rights and responsibilities.
Over the next few months we shall be looking closely at all the features of the benefit system which might have an impact on work incentives. A key priority will be to consider carefully support which enables people to make the transition from benefit into employment. We need to encourage those who wish to do some part-time work without creating a disincentive to take up full—time work. This is exactly the sort of issue we will be looking at as part of our welfare-to-work measures.