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Brown sets out new approach to New Deal
Gordon Brown has announced plans to overhaul both the New Deal and the employment service.
The government believes the programme has been a success but will pledge to revamp the scheme in order to target those still without work.
To be introduced through the Jobcentre Plus system, local job advisers will be given the freedom to tailor work and training to individuals' needs.
The policy comes in a five point action plan released on Wednesday.
Ministers are also considering a tougher approach - including more regular interviews with those seeking work.
Those with specific problems, such as former drug addicts or the homeless, will also be given specialist help.
Devolved decisions
Budgetary decisions about skills investment will also be devolved to local areas in order to ensure programmes accurately reflect the skills shortages in local workforces.
Announcing the move the chancellor said: "Having already created almost two million jobs since 1997, we are closer than ever to full employment.
"But our aim is full employment in every community and so today we are setting the next radical steps in our programme of reform.
"More choice, more devolution, more personalisation to extend and strengthen the New Deal."
The reforms were jointly launched by the chancellor and work secretary Andrew Smith.
"This will enable them to build a New Deal for each individual, a New Deal that will do more than ever to get them back to work, a New Deal for all," Smith said.
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Published: Wed, 19 May 2004 09:36:12 GMT+01
Author: Craig Hoy
"Our aim is full employment in every community and so today we are setting the next radical steps in our programme of reform"
Gordon Brown
What the government plans:
New freedoms and greater power to give local job advisers the flexibility to tailor a wider range of training and support to each individual's personal needs
A review of the intervention and sanction regime - with the possibility of tougher, more frequent interviews
More power and new local budgets controlled by local managers to purchase training and support to tackle local problems and meet individual needs with, for example, clothes, equipment and travel
Specialist programmes to help people with specific problems such as former drug addicts, alcoholics or homeless people
Devolved flexible skills budgets to enable local advisers to help people gain the skills they need to move off welfare and into work, and then win promotion and develop their career
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