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Proceeding contribution from Chris Ruane (Labour) in the House of Commons on Thursday, 20 October 2011. It occurred during Grand Committee proceedings (HC) on Work Programme (Wales).


Work Programme (Wales)

The hon. Gentleman is very lucky to have come off long-term unemployment as a Conservative MP. I am hoping that by the next the election there will not be too many such opportunities. One of the dangers of the Work programme is with the language and the terminology. We feel that some within the Conservative party—not necessarily hon. Members here—and the Conservative press look upon such people as workshy and as scroungers. The actual number of people who are prosecuted or convicted for benefit fraud—I have the answer from a parliamentary question in my bag—is 0.04%. It is a small amount. I have come across many decent people in my 10 years of working at the grass roots of the back-to-work agenda in my home town who are not like that. They want to get on. They want employment and to provide security for their families.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
WGC c47 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons Grand Committees
Subjects
Employment schemes Wales Work programme
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk