HISTORIC PRESS RELEASE : Welfare to Work Task Force Gets Underway [June 1997]

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 5 June 1997.

Chancellor Gordon Brown, Chair of the Welfare to Work Committee, today appointed Sir Peter Davis to Chair the Advisory Task Force on the New Deal for Young People and the Long-Term Unemployed.  Sir Peter is Group Chief Executive of the Prudential and Chairman of Business in the Community.

The Task Force will be a powerful tool in helping to deliver the Government`s commitment to help 250,000 young unemployed people move from welfare to work and to provide new opportunities to the long-term unemployed.

Making the announcement Mr Brown said:

“This government is determined not to continue down the road of a permanent have-not class, unemployed and disaffected from society.  Our Welfare to Work
programme, funded from the proceeds of the Windfall Levy, will break this cycle of despair and give hope and opportunity to a whole section of our society. The best form of welfare for people of working age is work.

“For the programme to be a success, it is vital that there is an enthusiastic response from employers and the voluntary sector.  Sir Peter, who was knighted
this year for services to training and industry, has the perfect blend of experience and skills to turn our ambitious plans into reality.  He and his Task Force will be bringing his considerable energy and business skills to bear on this priority task.  Sir Peter will get British business working to get the British back to work.”

Looking forward to his challenge, Sir Peter said:

“My work with both the Basic Skills Agency and Business in the Community has demonstrated to me the vital importance of getting unemployed people into work or proper training schemes.

“I was pleased to accept this position but in order to make time available, I am giving up certain outside commitments.  I have therefore today told David Blunkett that I must stand down after eight years as Chairman of the Basic Skills Agency.”