I'm curious as to what kind of dole scheme they're on that pays so well. That said, an mobile phone, TV, drinking 'premium lager' and getting a takeaway is hardly the life of Riley. A lot of people who are unemployed, and on benefits, also work legally and essentially top up their benefits.

The problem with a food voucher system is you'd also need a transport voucher system, clothing voucher system, fuel purchase voucher system, utility voucher system etc. The problem isn't with handing these vouchers out, its with private firms recouping them, and then being credited which is a logistic nightmare to implement - Especially if you want the vouchers to be traceable to the person they were issued to. These schemes when tried before elsewhere in the world have only lead to greater cost to the state, increased problems for the unemployed, a black market in the vouchers.

You're creating barriers/excuses again.

I'm talking about FOOD vouchers, that could be redeemed somewhere within a reasonable walking distance.

Issuing them with food vouchers ensures food is provided for them and their family.

If they are stupid enough to then trade the food or vouchers for cash to buy fags/booze/drugs etc then it just proves my point about the futility of trying to help "no hopers".

I am saying it doesn't strictly matter. Unless you are being employed under actual slave conditions, you are still employed even if what you do appears on the face of it to be exploitation, drudgery or whatever. Having been out of work 4 times in my life for no fault of my own, I couldn't buy a job while out of work. Get a job labouring on a building site or breaking boxes at BHS or doing anything that can be construed as gainful employment and prospective employers will be more likely to consider you. If you say you are currently "looking for work", your application will be binned with no further consideration.

The issues about employers abusing the system and the government cooking the books are valid. However, if you are without employment and without hope simply entering the employment market in any capacity is one rung on the ladder; and once you are there you get the extra free jump up another rung as you can use the posting as a platform to get a better job. Seriously, any person who uses the system well doesn't give a hoot about whether they are no longer part of the unemployment statistics.

You're creating barriers/excuses again.

I'm talking about FOOD vouchers, that could be redeemed somewhere within a reasonable walking distance.

Issuing them with food vouchers ensures food is provided for them and their family.

If they are stupid enough to then trade the food or vouchers for cash to buy fags/booze/drugs etc then it just proves my point about the futility of trying to help "no hopers".

We all know that capitalism has highs and lows. If someone has worked and paid tax and then a low sweeps in and they are unemployed they should be afforded dignity rather than just a meal.

There is a growing case list of companies that take advantage of state handouts every bit as much as the scapegoated unemployed. If we have a decent welfare system based on contributions through work - like the one Maggie removed - then we can go back to the principle that while the sun shines people work and pay in to the welfare system and when it rains and global forces push up unemployment, then they take out.

The myth is that there is a large group of welfare claimants who are perpetually taking the piss. The truth is that work is less secure and lower paid and there is a large group of people claiming welfare because of poor wages (to subsidize good profits at the shareholder end) or experiencing intermittent bouts of unemployment.

I think that people who have shares in the railways who earn a dividend for investing in a company that is bailed out by the tax payer every year, are scrounging far more than anyone who doesn't want to work. Its the same with people who bought post office shares cheap and then quickly sold them. Its just a state handout to someone who has a bit of spare cash.