A senior Labour backbencher has told the Government its handling of single parent benefit reductions appears "like just another Thatcherite cut."

Chairman of the PLP, Clive Soley, says the Government has no "clear direction" on welfare (5' 22")

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, Clive Soley, gave his warning in the New Statesman magazine ahead of a meeting between the Social Security Secretary and MPs to discuss disability benefits.

Mr Soley writes: "We cannot just watch people sink or swim while we build a new welfare state designed to increase independence and raising living standards through work.

"The most vulnerable groups, such as the disabled, lone parents and low-income pensioners, are the danger areas that we need to handle far more carefully in future."

Mr Soley's comments increased the pressure on Social Security Secretary Harriet Harman as she meets the Parliamentary All-Party Disablement Group on Thursday.

A leaked memo last week showed the Government is considering cuts to sickness and disability payments as part of its welfare review.

The senior policy adviser who wrote the memo said Ms Harman would need "a coherent and convincing story to tell" about such a policy.

Lord Ashley, of the Parliamentary Disabled Group, fears the cut of disability benefits (2' 11")

The Chairman of the Disablement Group, Lord Ashley, added: "The delegation will tell Harriet Harman that today's provision for disabled people has taken years to secure, every element is fully justified and none should be taken away.

"They will press for a repudiation of rumours of cuts in benefits."

The former Labour MP added a strong warning not to reduce or means-test such benefits.

He added: "This is a key meeting. The Government can either allay anxieties of disabled people or set the scene for a long, bitter and angry battle."

At a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party on Wednesday, the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said he realised the "need to learn" from the row over single parent benefit cuts.

But he said welfare reform remained integral to the Government's programme.

Leader of the TUC John Monks says the "level of benefits needs improvement" not reductions (2' 26")

The General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, John Monks, said reform had to bring benefits, not just cuts, to claimants.

"Our major point is to see that the process of consulting about the future of the welfare state is well founded and we do have an open debate about some of the problems that need to be tackled," he told BBC radio.

"Certainly if there are fraudulent claims they should be rooted out vigorously. But people who were genuinely disabled are rather poor and the idea that they are going to be worse off is something we will be seeking reassurances about."
 

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