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date: 30 July 2010

embargo: For immediate release

TUC on proposed changes to benefits system

Commenting on the plans for changes to the benefits system announced today (Friday) by Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Iain Duncan Smith, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'While the aim behind this certainly has merit, ministers have a big problem. You can only make work pay in two ways.

'Either you make those who are out of work poorer, yet we already have jobless benefit levels way below those when Mrs Thatcher was in power. Or you can boost income in work either through more generous benefits or a higher minimum wage.

'The first should be morally unacceptable, while the Treasury will not allow the second. Iain Duncan-Smith is trapped in the Catch 22 of welfare reform.'

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Press release (300 words) issued 30 Jul 2010