Welfare Reform Bill
4:47 pm
Martin Narey: That is a very real problem and I do not have a ready answer. I am saying that in principle, despite those problems, the Government are right to look at conditionality because the ultimate prize is getting a family out of long-term poverty. We know the probability that a child brought up in poverty in a workless family will bring their own children up in poverty. The potential break in that cycle is worth exploring. Of course, you have to ensure that children are reasonably protected. Some people refuse to work. We cannot dodge that. Although I accept entirely that most people who are unemployed want to work, there are some people who simply do not want to and resist any attempt to get them to work. That is very damaging for them and it is appalling for their children.