Lilley: Nothing concrete

Lilley: has heard it all before...

"Nothing Concrete" Says Lilley

"It's an old speech I'd heard many times before in Opposition and it sadly means that Tony Blair hasn't really moved on ...in government you have to take serious decisions about serious matters, not just criticise the other party - and there is nothing really concrete and coherent and credible in what he is offering."

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's PM programme Mr Lilley, who is also campaigning for the Tory Party leadership said that the invitation offered to jobless single parents to attend an interview at the job centre, would achieve very little. He said that and Labour policy was a step back from the Tory proposal to help jobless single parents under a scheme called "Parent Plus."

"Labour are going to employ more bureaucrats in Job Centres around the country to interview one million lone parents to give them information without proper incentives for staff or practical assistance for lone parents..The bureaucratic costs will be high and there is no guarantee of any savings at all," he said.

The former Minister was also among the number of Tories who protested against Mr Blair for making his speech on a housing estate instead of in the Commons.

Liberal Democrat social security spokesman, Steve Webb, accused the Government of doing too little to provide child care facilities for working mothers. "The spare change from the mid-week lottery is simply not enough. Parents need to know proper child care is available before they can look for real work. Without this Mr Blair's drive to end welfare dependency among lone parents is doomed to failure," he said.

Skinner Warns Against An "Easy Headline"

Labour leftwinger Dennis Skinner warned the Prime Minister against going for "the easy headline" when the important thing was to find work for those that badly needed it.

Mr Skinner urged Social Security Minister of State Frank Field "to understand that the easy headline might be all right for a day or two, but the important thing is that this Government will be characterised by its success in finding work for those that badly need it".

Harman Says Child Care Is The Key

Harriet Harman, Social Security Minister said Tony Blair's welfare to work proposals will ensure "a better standard of living for lone mothers and their children and a better deal for the taxpayer".

Miss Harman told MPs in the House of Commons at question time the best way to help lone mothers and their children "is to allow them the opportunity that they want to have a better standard of living by going out to work".

The National Association for One-Parent Families had said lack of affordable child care was one of the most important reasons preventing lone mothers going to work, said Miss Harman.

"That's why the Prime Minister in his speech today on welfare reform has said that he is determined ... to ensure that, when their youngest child turns five, lone mothers are invited into the Job centre to be given advice and information about voluntary work, training, work, and also to be sure that we have a network of after-school clubs throughout the country, to ensure that when lone mothers are working beyond school hours they know that their children are learning and playing safely in proper, supervised facilities rather than feeling that they are having to wander the streets."