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David Cameron says move will help people get work, as welfare minister comes attack in Lords on reforms
People claiming jobseeker's allowance who do not learn English will lose some benefits, under plans announced on Tuesday by the prime minister.
The plans are likely to affect 60,000 people, many of them Bangladeshi women who have not learned English.
JSA claimants will receive free English language courses, but if they reject the offer, they will lose their benefits.
David Cameron made the announcement as the welfare reform minister, Lord Freud, came under attack in the Lords during the second reading of the welfare bill, with many peers expressing deep concern at the impact of the reforms on disabled people. The planned benefit cap for those out of work came under special criticism.
With the government facing defeat on a range of specific proposals through the autumn, Freud hinted at concessions without giving details. He acknowledged that many social housing landlords are concerned housing benefit will no longer be paid to them, but instead to the claimant though the new universal credit – designed to merge tax credits and benefits for those out of work or on low pay. He promised safeguards for landlords and their lenders.
He also promised to listen to concerns at the way the mobility component of the disability living allowance was being cut for those living in residential care and said he would take this into account when designing its replacement – the personal independent payment.
He also acknowledged concern from cancer victims that they may find themselves struck off the new employment support allowance after one year, saying he had received recommendations on the issue from Professor Michael Harrington, the official reviewer of government's disability reforms.
Freud also disclosed that he was writing to all employment support allowance recipients this month to reassure them over the reforms.
He acknolwdged that ministers had not yet published how universal credit will absorb the current £2bn childcare support budget, an issue that peers regard as critical to their support.
Defending his benefit reforms, David Cameron said: "We're saying that if there's something you need to help you get a job, for instance being able to speak English and learn English properly, it should be a requirement that you take that course, do that study in order for you to receive your benefits."
MPs have also agreed to debate the withdrawal of benefits from convicted rioters after more than 100,000 called on MPs to discuss the issue on the the government's e-petition website.
They will also debate the Hillsborough disaster documents release after calls from 100,000 people on the same site. It is the first time the public has been able to shape the agenda of parliament so directly.
A debate on the full release of documents relating to the Hillsborough football stadium disaster will be held in the main Commons chamber on 17 October.
Patrick Wintour
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