08 February 2008
The Commons Public Accounts Committee has called for a 'joined-up' strategy across government and agencies to help get unemployed people back to work.
The report Helping people into work, published on February 7, warns that there is no 'overarching strategy between Jobcentre Plus and the many other bodies, such as local authorities and community and voluntary sector organisations, which provide employment support programmes'.
PAC chair Edward Leigh said: 'If the government is to achieve its aim of an employment rate of 80%, then the Department for Work and Pensions has to help some 1.6 million people who have been out of work for a long time find jobs.'
Leigh said that evidence suggested that the government's New Deal programme for unemployed people was becoming less successful, and support needed to be delivered by organisations with the 'right kind of knowledge of local communities'.
The UK employment rate stands at 74.4% and the government hopes to raise this to 80%.
However, there are still 3 million workless households across the country, which are estimated to cost the government at least £12.7bn a year in welfare benefits.
'Many of those on benefits year after year are unskilled, disabled or caring for children,' Leigh said.
'Their problems need to be tackled early, before the pattern of being unemployed becomes entrenched.'
PFfeb2008