Purnell's purge on dole cheats

Cabinet minister James Purnell today vowed to stop people claiming benefits while also working on the sly.

Mr Purnell outlined his determination to tackle Britain's dependency culture and said radical plans to shake up the benefits system would be launched on Monday.

A key proposal is to make dole claimants do work or training to be entitled to benefits. Championing a US-style "work for dole" scheme, the Work and Pensions Secretary said: "You have to create a system where people who are working illegally don't have the time to do that."

Private sector companies will be urged to draw up schemes to cut dole queues and will be invited to bid to run welfare-to-work projects. "There will be a very clear expectation that if there is work there people should take it and sanctions to make sure that if they do not there will be consequences," he added.

Disabled people who are physically able to work will be expected to do so, as will lone parents when their children reach the age of seven.

Mr Purnell's pre-announcement of his policy is likely to fuel speculation that Cabinet ministers are jockeying for position as Gordon Brown struggles in the polls.