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Preparing Britain for the Future – The Government’s draft legislative programme 2008-09.

This green paper sets out the Government's plans for legislation in next year's Parliamentary session.

Among the bills mentioned is a new Welfare Reform Bill (page 45 of the green paper). There are no details concerning this bill but its main elements are:

• Greater requirements to undertake work, training or other activity in preparation for work.
• All unemployed people would be required to have their skills assessed when they first claim benefits – those that refuse to undertake the training that is considered essential to finding employment may have their benefit sanctioned.
• A range of measures intended to "strengthen the benefit contract between the individual and society" – the individual’s right to support in exchange for clear personal responsibility for improving their own circumstances.
• A number of measures to strengthen the requirements of non-resident parents to contribute to their children’s upbringing, as part of a package which champions personal responsibility in the welfare system.
• Measures to modernise and simplify the benefit system, ensuring that support provides help at the time and in the manner most needed.

Most of the Bill will cover England, Wales and Scotland. The Government will work with the Northern Ireland Executive on its responsibilities in this area. Measures to provide greater choice and control for disabled people will apply to England only.

Flexible working

As a further measure to "help working parents achieve a better work life balance", the Government has accepted the recommendations made by Imelda Walsh, the HR director of Sainsbury's, to extend the right to request flexible working to parents of children up to age 16 (the Walsh review - Right to request flexible working: a review of how to extend the right to request flexible working to parents of older children).

The government will now consult on implementing the proposals.

Welfare Reform Bill consultation

The Government plans to publish a Green Paper followed by a full consultation. In the meantime you can add an online comment on the proposed welfare reform bill.

Have your say about the draft legislative programme

The Government wants to hear your views on the Draft Legislative Programme so that it can take full account of them in formulating the Queen’s Speech.

To structure this process it has set out a number of questions at the end of the green paper.

Please send responses to:

The Draft Legislative Programme Consultation
Freepost SCE 7543
Hayes, Middlesex
UB3 1BR

Or complete the online form at www.commonsleader.gov.uk/yourvoice

Closing date

The closing date for responses is 6 August 2008.

More information

• comment on the proposed welfare reform bill
• full list of bills (BBC website)
• preparing britain for the future – The Government’s draft legislative programme 2008-09 (in pdf format)
• right to request flexible working - link to full report
• right to request flexible working - press release
• www.commonsleader.gov.uk/yourvoice
• welfare green paper due to be published in late summer
• welfare reform bill green paper - DWP press release

Note: for pdf files you will need to download adobe acrobat reader. To convert the pdf to alternative formats or for more information on accessibility go to access adobe.

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