Rachel Reeves MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, responding to plans to cap benefits to pay for apprenticeships, said:

“In six months’ time David Cameron will be judged on his failed record on welfare. Far from controlling social security spending his Government is set to overspend by a staggering £13 billion.

“Taxpayers are paying more for welfare because of this Government’s chaotic and incompetent policies. Universal Credit has ground to a halt. the Work Programme had failed miserably. The number of working people claiming housing benefit is set to double between 2010 and 2018 costing taxpayers a staggering £12.9 billion because ministers have failed to tackle low pay.

“Under the Tory-led government, the number of apprenticeship starts for young people is falling and ministers have opposed Labour’s plans to use government procurement to create thousands of new apprenticeship opportunities. We will ensure that all apprenticeships are high-quality and that as many school leavers take apprenticeships as go to university.”

Ends

Notes to editors

1. A Labour government will control social security costs by tackling the root causes of rising spending in low pay and a lack of affordable homes. Labour will raise the Minimum Wage, get young people back to work with a compulsory jobs guarantee, introduce Living Wage contracts and get 200,000 homes built a year by 2020 to tackle the soaring benefit bill and ensure working people can make ends meet.