Tories decry `failed' New Deal scheme
SOCIAL SECURITY
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.THE GOVERNMENT'S New Deal programme was attacked by the Tories after it emerged that only 3.8 per cent of lone parents invited to enter the scheme got jobs after doing so.
After the publication of January's figures, which showed the success rate had dropped from 7 per cent, Iain Duncan Smith, the Tory social security spokesman, accused ministers of wasting pounds 200m on the initiative. Since the programme was set up, 163,383 letters have been sent to lone parents inviting them for an interview but only 6,262 got jobs as a result.
Under the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill, now going through Parliament, lone parents will have to attend interviews with benefits staff or have their benefits cut.
During question time Mr Duncan Smith added that a fifth of lone parents who did get jobs left them after six months. "The whole New Deal for lone parents has proved nothing more than an expensive failure. This is because ministers did not listen or study the project properly," he said.
The figures were published as the Chancellor, Gordon Brown, was expected to expand the programme to over-50s in his Budget today.
A big extension of the New Deal, seen as a vital plank of the welfare- to-work initiative, with the creation of 60,000 places for long-term unemployed, was announced in the November pre-budget statement.
Earlier this month it was disclosed that 43 per cent of the young unemployed who enter the education and training option of the New Deal find jobs, down from 47 per cent.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments