Welfare shake-up announced

There's a playful joke about Gordon Brown that he can see the future and it's work.

Now he and Tony Blair have jointly launched a welfare shake-up, with single parents expected to go back to work when their youngest child turns 12, rather than at the current age of 16.

The new proposals could also lead to the unemployed having their benefits cut if they don't look for jobs.

And the private and voluntary sectors will be paid for ensuring that the unemployed find jobs and stay in them.

Lone parents should get back into the workforce much sooner - the welfare state can't afford to support them - and work is in their children's best interests too.

That was the joint message from Tony Blair and Gordon Brown - unveiling a range of new requirements on welfare claimants.

Samantha Henson from Nottingham has six children - aged from 6 to 16. She's been a lone parent for five years.

She's not in work and claiming benefits.

The Government says it will only impose a new duty on her to seek work if it's providing childcare in her area.

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