w2w conference 09

Recognised as a major influence on the thinking of a future Conservative government, the Policy Exchange is moving beyond Freud to look at one of the enduring problems of the welfare state: the ever-increasing complexity of benefit rules, and how they might be simplified. As Theresa May acknowledged in her own appearance at the conference, research on this is in the earliest stages, and the session was mostly a debate rather than a presentation of results. Taking the idea of a single, universal benefit as a starting point, the discussion quickly revealed why so many ministers have come in intending to simplify the benefits system and left with something even more complex in its place.

Just for reference, there will be something of a flood of stories about various conference sessions between now and Friday, assuming I can find internet access in rural Cumbria after I leave Liverpool on Wednesday. I was hoping to put some up tonight (Tuesday), but this was somewhat scuppered by the FND release and the overwhelming volume of content to sort through.

The PQQ for FND phase 2 was released today, with an announcement by new Work and Pensions minister Yvette Cooper at the CESI Welfare to Work conference. Later on at the conference, however, it became rather less clear whether this FND2 round would even lead to a contract award. Theresa May and David Freud, representing the Conservative front bench, although not speaking with one voice, made it clear that the current FND model was not what the Conservatives would choose.