WORKFARE SCHEMES

That this House is concerned about the proposals made in the first clause in the Welfare Reform Bill relating to work for your benefits schemes, which give powers to introduce mandatory full-time work experience pilots from 2010 and will require some jobseekers to engage for up to six weeks in a programme of full-time community-based work experience, claiming that this will enable claimants to build up work habits and practical experience; notes that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) defines workfare as programmes that have the aim to improve the employability and work habits of participants and that enforce the reciprocal responsibilities of those receiving social assistance through taking part in activities of benefit to the wider community; further notes the DWP research report published in 2008 examining the impact of workfare schemes that mandate participation in unpaid work activities as a condition of receiving social assistance which found that workfare has a deterrent effect that stops people claiming or encourages people to leave welfare schemes before the workfare stage; further notes that the present sum of £60.50 per week Jobseeker's Allowance equates to £1.73 per hour for a 35 hour week of full-time mandatory activity; and therefore calls on the Government to make work for your benefits schemes voluntary.