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Radical! haha.Its happening just now anyway,And it doesnt mention that it only applies to all NEW claiments on incap from 2003 not before that!I agree withthe Drug users bit.Bet it wont happen.

Typical misplaced public schoolboy arrogance of Purnell,for him to come on to the ET and patronise us mere mortals. The green paper proposals are closer to what the Nazi party done in the 1930's when they refused to acknowledge the existence of disabled people. The green paper acknowledges that these proposals arent about saving money. Money is not the issue here. If it was then they are much better ways to save money (leave Iraq, stop the £200 billion secret IOU to banks etc). These proposals are all about a Nazi like [bold]hatred of disabled , the weak and the poor.[/bold] Through Purnell's idea's (or are they they the brainstorming ideas of the private banks like Rothschild & Co at the Travellers Club down at Pall Mall?) Like the Nazi's ideas the weak, the poor and the non existent disabled will have to [bold]"work for freedom"[/bold] to ensure they keep their minimum threshold "benefits". So in reality we have a green paper that is helping to create a slave work force who will do a cheaper than other people through government created slave conditions. Also these plans will :[bold]undermine the minimum wage. Increase crime. Increase the homeless population[/bold] (which the government wants , so they can create "work camps). [bold]And to remove the legal definition of what it means to be disabled[/bold] . Like i said this isnt about money, this is about a blatant hatred of the disabled, the weak, and the poor and turning them into a slave work force kept in penury and given no options or hope. And of course the private banks like Rothschild & Co that Purnell spies for at the Westminster brothel will make money out of these proposals. So you'll be rolling in the money even after your voted out next election Purnell, whilst us mere mortals will have to navigate the mess you have been "[italic]inspired[/italic] " to create. Private schooing abroad like you had Purnell as a lot to answer for.

Meep, of all the guff you have ever posted in these pages, this is the worst yet. --- These proposals are all about a Nazi like hatred of disabled , the weak and the poor. --- Ye Gods man. Let me guess, you receive incapacity benefit yourself? Anyone out of work who cannot demonstrate suitable effort to find employment should not receive money, rather they should be forced to que for bashed / reject tins left over from the local supermarket. Some say that strips folk of their dignity, Id say sitting on your bum all day, while allowing the state to feed, clothe and house you is the [bold]real[/bold] stripper of dignity. Every single time I have been in a job centre, the walls have been full of job adverts. Every time. There is no issue of unavailable work; there are issues regarding people opting out of the labour force, and issues regarding the over-generous benefit system which allows them to do so. Disabled people should be given all the help and support they need, but not in the form of a hammock. These proposals are about weeding out the "disabled" who can regularly be seen "taking their sticks for a walk", not persecution of genuinely disabled people. Glasgow has 1 in 5 adults of working age claiming disability benefit. An idiot could see that is not the reality of the situation. That means every four people who go out to work are having to carry another between them. Wake up!

Meep [quote]These proposals are all about a Nazi like hatred of disabled , the weak and the poor.[/quote] Most of the working class in Glasgow share that hatred with the elitists. That can often be seen in these comments pages.

int it a shame that wenever theres a benefit shake up the same digs come out oh it must be that folk are claiming benefit that shouldnt be or the folk that work carry the folk that dont and that soicitys probs are to do with drug addicts single mums pensioners etc well my family all worked them b4 that my daughter at 17 works and got noting off goverment b4 that my incapasity benefit for a life threatening illness kept her my daughter a single parent got screwed over while working to the point she got ill and couldnt afford to work due to childcare costs and low wages, my mum and dad both diables now worked all their days to live off a small penision with no benfit and have to pay full council tax etc so were are we better off people on incapasity pay cousncil tax a majority pay rent so its no free ride by any means and theres no security either the benfit can get lost form after miserable for needs to be filled for you to wait wks sometimes mths to get money and the majority i may add wid go out and work just for the company and the fact they were usefull for a while so mr or mrs i work my arse off please dont judge all by wot you hear or read about not all benfit claimants are without good couse or geniune but is no picknick in any shape or form

I think there should be a greater focus on the initial period when someone becomes ill and gets a sick like from their doctor. As I understand it, and it is way before my time, but many years ago you had to go before a panel of doctors to get a sick line (hence the term 'panel line'). Whether this is right or wrong I think we should go back to that system. Doctors hand out sick lines without even thinking about it and this discredits the whole system. SAMH are a fantastic organisation for assisting employees with mental health issues - they really work hard to keep people in a job. As a perfect example Employee A is signed off with depression because their girlfriends brother was stabbed. 6 months later they are still off with depression and their claim is then taken over by the benefits system ... they never returned to work. Sick lines should be harder to get but also people who are genuinely ill should get better support to help them keep their jobs and get back to work as soon as possible.

Will people on benifit that have to work under the new scyme that are on medication be insured as able bodied people are...this is inportent?. people that are sick have good days and bad days so who pays on a bad day when one cant work or does one have to starve because of illness

Just to pick up on one of my points. If the government has a a slave work force that is subject to doing jobs and work to recieve their minimal "benefits", then this will contravene the government's own minimum wage law. So in this context this is a covert effort to destabilise the minimum wage and its stability to workers and employees across the country. If the green paper proposals go through whats to stop companies sacking their staff and taking on the "work for benefits" mob who will be forced to work below the governments own minimum wage, and not subject to the same employment rights as a proper employee? This is what "globalisation" is really about. A [bold]cheap, trapped, docile compliant workforce[/bold] who will be subject to poverty and reduced employment rights. Just what the private banks and bankers like Purnell are engineering to make happen at this moment.

Having worked in the field of befriending those with mental health problems, and been on steering committees to shape the way in which mental health patients are cared for, ....my concern is that this proposal does not have enough detail in it to convince those sceptics who have been in some kind of employment previously, but have had to drop out of it, and go on Incapacity Benefit due to hospitalisation from depression, scizophrenia, psychosis (etc.) Many people fall into the trap of being unemployed and on benefits through no fault of their own, despite the negative way in which people frown & stare at them when they say they are "long term sick." Naturally many people will benefit from the structure, close contact with companions & colleagues alike, and a sense of purpose. But, for others that idealism doesn't come so easily. Examples include those with a very low self esteem, paranoia, delusions, social anxiety disorders, panic attacks or any such problems which still surface from time to time, or are worsened by stress, or change. For some mental health problems do not even show up, or are very subtle or well hidden, and when out of work for months even years it is easy to have a drop in self confidence & esteem even for those who do not have a mental health problem. But, those who have tried, who have managed to work and are not on Disability Living Allowance, but Incapacity Benefit are going to be penalised. An example being someone studying medicine, almost finished their exams when tragically they develop scizophrenia. All the work they'ed done counted for nothing. The hospitalisation, anti-psychotic drugs, their side effects, and the disappointment all combined make such a case very sad to hear. Yet, many people do not realise the ease at which it can strike some people. Will they be free from the pressures of the government in getting them back into work ? I just hope that whatever happens, those who are pushed into employment, or voluntary work who have been out of that sphere, and environment for years get the support, supervision, advice and help needed to get used to a working environment. The problem in so many work environments for those who don't have mental health issues is that the stress of the job can be overbearing, and when your defenses are down it can be easy to crack, or snap or end up having what was previously known as a "nervous breakdown." Unless the management of all work extablishments realise the need to support & supervise their staff equally and to a level expected of them those who do not cope with stress in the work place, who have had a mental health problem previously will innevetably suffer the most.

Some interesting points raised. I sympathise with some of the points People Power and Ronnie make. The Green Paper is rich on recycled ideas but pays little attention to the detail. I have some serious issues about the process people need to go through to prove they are ledgitimately sick. There is serious ramifications here for the seriously ill, disabled and mentally ill. However, the government does need to address the high level of economic inactivity that exists across the city. Persecuting those in receipt of benefit is not the answer, people need to be treated with respect and dignity and be offered REAL opportunities to enter the labour market or pursue the neccessary training they require. The Green Paper fails to comprehensively address labour market failures especially within Glasgow. We are told there is a raft of jobs available for those that want them. Not so I am afrais. Extensive research By Professor Ivan Turok and Professor Steve Fothergill show that there is seious deficiencies in the Glasgow laBOUR MARKET.For example the raft of poorly paid jobs available in the service sector that exasperate poverty and poor health. Although the governments Pathways to Work programme is a start in the right direction private and voluntary sector providers will need to be closely montored and reviewed to ensure there is an "acceptable balance" between profit and the delivery of quality provision. The market stewardship of the Department of Work & Pensions will be pivotal in this process.

Some interesting points raised. I sympathise with some of the points People Power and Ronnie make. The Green Paper is rich on recycled ideas but pays little attention to the detail. I have some serious issues about the process people need to go through to prove they are ledgitimately sick. There is serious ramifications here for the seriously ill, disabled and mentally ill. However, the government does need to address the high level of economic inactivity that exists across the city. Persecuting those in receipt of benefit is not the answer, people need to be treated with respect and dignity and be offered REAL opportunities to enter the labour market or pursue the neccessary training they require. The Green Paper fails to comprehensively address labour market failures especially within Glasgow. We are told there is a raft of jobs available for those that want them. Not so I am afrais. Extensive research By Professor Ivan Turok and Professor Steve Fothergill show that there is seious deficiencies in the Glasgow laBOUR MARKET.For example the raft of poorly paid jobs available in the service sector that exasperate poverty and poor health. Although the governments Pathways to Work programme is a start in the right direction private and voluntary sector providers will need to be closely montored and reviewed to ensure there is an "acceptable balance" between profit and the delivery of quality provision. The market stewardship of the Department of Work & Pensions will be pivotal in this process.