The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (David Blunkett): Today we publish the Department’s Principles of Welfare Reform, which contain the values and principles which shape the Government’s vision of the future Welfare State. A copy has been placed in the Library, and copies are available to hon Members in the Vote Office.

Our values of equality, opportunity, fairness and social justice underpin these principles. We have already moved away from a passive social security system which could be caricatured as encouraging welfare dependency. The next stage of Welfare Reform will be designed not only to help people to return to work, but also progress in work.

The Government will help people achieve success for themselves and their families by building the necessary skills and assets for future personal security. It will provide support, nationally and locally, and help individuals fulfil their potential.

Our core principles are to:

help people to help themselves by offering a ladder to self-reliance and self-determination, not merely a safety net in time of need;

see work as the best route out of welfare;

promote understanding and enable people to make informed choices for themselves;

balance rights with responsibilities, while recognising the need for support and care where appropriate;

recognise our mutual interdependence and obligation to each other, promoting solidarity between generations, and the importance of using the resources of Government to help people cope with rapid economic and social change;

ensure the role of the state is active, liberating and enabling;

address the root causes of poverty and overcome intergenerational disadvantage and exclusion;

contribute to a stable and growing economy through investment in the potential of every individual, and flexibility of support in and out of work.

The foundations we help build will widen economic opportunity, support improvement in productivity and prosperity, and assist with continuing economic growth and social inclusion.