David Kidney, Stafford’s Labour MP, says he is glad that Staffordshire has been selected as a pathfinder for a new welfare reform initiative to help parents with younger children:

“The Department for Work and Pensions has chosen Staffordshire Jobcentre Plus as one of four pilot areas for a new support system for lone parents with younger children returning to work. The purpose of Progression to Work is to provide a supportive framework to help many more parents with younger children to prepare for work. Putting this framework in place will ensure that more families are helped with work-related issues and reinforce our aim to eradicate child poverty in Britain.

“Currently, lone parents in receipt of benefits are required to attend regular, work-focused interviews and agree action plans, although any activities they undertake are on a voluntary basis. This new Progression to Work builds on these arrangements with a regime of regular interviews and action planning under which a lone parent must undertake work-related activity as advised by a personal advisor. A crucial difference is that there are financial sanctions for failing to keep to the regime, but a financial penalty would not be imposed until after a full investigation of an individual’s circumstances is carried out.

“The Progression to Work model does not require people to apply for, or take up, a specific job offer. It does however allow lone parents who work less than 16 hours a week to keep a greater proportion of their earnings as an incentive.

“The pathfinders will run in four districts – Nottinghamshire, South London, Tees Valley and Staffordshire. Together, they cover about 10 per cent of eligible customers. All the pathfinders are delivered through Jobcentre Plus. This initiative marks a step-change in support for lone parents and their families.”