Also revealed in the welfare and skills paper, Work Skills, is the plan to consult on making it compulsory for lone parents and people on employment and support allowance to attend skills training.
From this autumn, all 19-25 year-olds who are not qualified up to A-level standard will have the right to free training worth £7,000. Young people will also be entitled to an Apprenticeship Credit with which they can approach employers who may offer them an apprenticeship.
"Signing up for benefits should be a contract for individuals to do whatever they can to get themselves into work - skills training is pivotal in getting people equipped to work," says secretary of state for work and pensions James Purnell. "We want to ensure that we give people the help they need. But it's a two-way responsibility. That's why we want to make sure that everyone who needs training is required to do it as part of their benefit."
