Ready for Work: Full Employment in Our Generation. Department for Work and Pensions

This paper sets out the Government's strategy for moving people from being passive recipients of benefits to becoming active in seeking and preparing for work. It builds on the reform principles set out in the green paper "In work, better off: the next steps to full employment" (Cm. 7130, ISBN 9780101713023) and relates to the policies set out in the skills document "Opportunity, employment and progression: making skills work" (Cm. 7288, ISBN 9780101728829) and to the proposals to implement the Leitch Review set out in "World class skills ..." (Cm. 7181, ISBN 9780101718127). It deals in particular with creating a stronger framework of rights and responsibilities, and supporting people to find work through a personalised and responsive approach. Policies include: making work pay, to ensure long-term claimants see a significant rise in their incomes when they take a job; lone parents with older children will have to seek work, and availability of affordable childcare will be a key part of the assessment by Jobcentre Plus staff; modernisation of the New Deal arrangements; Jobcentre Plus will lead the job search for the first 12 months; support for disabled people and people with health conditions will be revised, with Employment and Support Allowance replacing Incapacity Benefit, and Pathways to Work and a Work Capability Assessment being available; Jobcentre Plus will be at the heart of the system, and will work in partnership with public, private and third sector specialist providers, employers and local communities; integrated employment and skills provision, with basic skills screening and more support for training.