Cooper no new broom on welfare reform

New Work And Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper finds no reason to question the rhetoric or the agenda of the man she replaces, says Sunil Peck

Although Yvette Cooper has only been Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for a short time, it is clear from our email exchange that she has no plans to revise the Government’s strategy for shifting more disabled people off Incapacity Benefit and into work.

She talks about the strategy in the style that we have become accustomed to from her predecessor James Purnell and the Minister for Disabled People Jonathan Shaw.

So rather than talking about scroungers, she focuses on the importance of supporting more disabled people into work.

“We’re undertaking the most radical reform of the welfare state for generations, and at its heart is making sure people are viewed as individuals, are listened to and supported in the right way for them.”

She goes on to emphasise the importance of personal support to help disabled people overcome barriers to work. What’s more, she insists that rising unemployment and a more competitive labour market strengthen the case for the Government’s welfare reforms.

“When times are hard, it’s more important than ever that we provide disabled people with the extra help they need. We must ensure no one is written off or consigned to a lifetime on benefits.

“But we must make sure there is proper support for those who can’t work and that the system is sensitive to people’s needs.”

She brushes off concerns that disabled people could be forced into unsuitable jobs for fear of losing benefits.

“We’ve made it clear that Flexible New Deal (FND) providers should tailor their support to people’s needs. There are safeguards in place to prevent anyone in FND being required to take up a job that is not suitable.”

But what about press reports that private companies with Pathways to Work contracts have been inflating the number of disabled people they have placed in employment in order to claim more government money? Don’t these reports discredit the strategy of using profit-driven companies to find work for disabled people?

Cooper ducks the question. Instead, she promises to clamp down on rogue companies. “Cases of fraud by providers or their staff are very rare. However, we take any such allegations extremely seriously
and will take action where it happens.

“We will also recoup any money and involve the police if appropriate.”

Our exchange yielded little about Cooper’s previous experience of disabled people and disability.

Instead she said: “One of my first opportunities as Work and Pensions Secretary was to attend the launch of the Right to Control national consultation. I was fortunate to meet and speak with disabled people who told me about the issues they face.”

She went on to say that the Government had a duty to empower more disabled people with initiatives like Access to Work, the Job Introduction Scheme, Work Preparation and Workstep.

It seems there’s still little to separate Labour and the Conservatives on welfare reform on Cooper’s watch.