David Cameron’s Conservative government adopts a less-than-novel approach to the country’s “useless eaters”.
The policy could mean that those on employment and support allowance who have been placed in the work-related activity group (Wrag) could be compelled to undertake work experience for charities, public bodies and high-street retailers. The Wrag group includes those who have been diagnosed with terminal cancer but have more than six months to live; accident and stroke victims; and some of those with mental health issues. [emphasis added]
In official notes from a meeting on 1 December last year, [the Department for Work and Pensions] advisers they were not intending to put a time limit on the work experience placements.
When asked at the meeting if there was a maximum duration to the placements, the reply was: “There are no plans to introduce a maximum time limit.”
Good grief. Will somebody please throw a rock through the Overton Window?