Chronicle Vox-Pop: High time we weeded out scroungers

A HUGE raft of measures designed to encourage the unemployed back into work were unveiled by the Government this week.

The moves, billed by Works and Pensions Secretary James Purnell, MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, as the biggest shake up of the welfare system for 60 years. Reporter Jennifer Hollamby took to the streets of Chadderton to find out what Oldhamers thought of the scheme.

THE Government pumps billions of pounds a year into the welfare state and while some believe it is fit for purpose, others, including the Government, think it is ripe for change.

Under proposals laid out in the welfare reform green paper, incapacity benefit and income support will be scrapped, and replaced by employment support allowance for those with medical problems which limit their ability to get work and jobseeker’s allowance for those who are fit to work.

Lone parents with children aged seven or older will be expected to work, while drug users claiming benefits will have to take part in a treatment programme.

As someone who has never been out of a job, Stuart Cook (28) is wholeheartedly behind the reforms.

He said: “There are thousands of jobs out there for people who want them. But as long as the Government pays people for doing nothing, there will always be a percentage who will take advantage of it and sit on their backsides.

“I think a lot of it is about laziness and not wanting to take what’s on offer.”

Margaret Garrod (52), of Wellington Street, Chadderton, said: “There are far too many people claiming benefits in this country and I think these changes are long overdue.

“You see young lads hanging around in the middle of the day with their designer trainers and mobile phones and you wonder why they not at work.

“There are genuine claimants, but there are also many who abuse the system.”

Lucy Macmanus (79), of Kempsey Court in Chadderton, is no stranger to hard graft, having started her working life in Oldham’s cotton mills at the tender age of 14.

She said: “If you are able to work, you should go out and work. My son has Downs Syndrome and he has a job, so I think if he can do it, many others can as well.

“But I think the Government has got to be careful not to bully people with genuine disabilities into getting a job.”

Sandra Shirt (64), from Taunton Road, Chadderton, said: “There are so many people claiming benefits these days that it does make you wonder whether all of them are genuine. It’s too easy for people to claim and the rules need to be tightened.”

While 55-year-old Caroline Edwards, of Taylor Street, Chadderton, agrees in principle with the changes, she believes younger benefits claimants need to be offered more tailored support.

She said: “The Government should be giving younger people more education and training opportunities and the prospect of a proper long-term jobs, rather than encouraging them to go for just any job, which might end after a few months and leave them in the lurch again.

“My son once worked really hard for six months, and did lots of overtime and was then dropped, even though he was never told that the job wasn’t meant to be permanent.

“If young people are directed into short-term, dead end jobs, which will end as soon as they have got used to earning money, they will become despondent and wonder why they should bother working.”

Kayley Postels (24) said: “The amount of money the Government spends on benefits is ridiculous. They could be investing that money in education or the local community. The economy is already struggling and the sheer number of people claiming benefits is making the situation even worse.”

Kayley’s partner, Paul Coulson (28) said: “It doesn’t seem fair that hard-working families like us are struggling through the credit crunch, when others are just taking money off the state.

“Some of the money being paid in benefits could be used to improve the provision of council accommodation.

“We are looking for a council house, but nothing is available for us.”

Robert Wolstencroft (69), from Moorside, said: “If people were put to work on community projects, not only would it improve the environment in which we all live, but it would also boost their self esteem.

“I think a lot of the problems related to young people and anti-social behaviour are because they don’t have any direction.

“When I was younger everybody worked, because they wanted something to go out to everyday and to earn their own money.”