[Vicky.]

As for an idea to get people back into work..let me give you my recent experience with this kind of thing.

Work dried up so me and Gav were having to claim JSA on weeks when we had no work..whilst Gavin looked for a steadier position. We were on JSA for around 2 months or so. During this time it was deemed that Gavin was long term unemployed (LOL..2 months unemployed since leaving school...) and would be 'helped' by attending the work program. The plan was for him to spend 35 hours a week in their stuffy little centre, sharing an old computer with someone else, taking turns to look or vacancies..much help yes? He found a job before his first work program appointment.

But to this day the work program are STILL hounding him for his employment details..so that they can claim their 5k or so bonus for getting him back into work, despite him never attending their centre, and finding the job off his own back. I told him under no circumstances give them his details..and he hasn't. Now they keep trying to arrange appointments with him to pressure him into signing a declaration to say THEY found him the job.

Now, people claim the work program helps people into employment...from this^ what help do they give? Besides collecting a bonus for doing nothing. Infact the governments own figures say that being on the work program actually hinders jobsearching...so whats the need in it if not to punish people for not having a job?

I know the work program is different to this new thing they have come up with, but I saw the 'helping people into work' excuse for that too, when I know for a fact its not about that,