"National's welfare policy for under-20's is, quite frankly, crap," says an increasingly cynical Lindsay Mitchell, petitioner for a Parliamentary review. "Behind the attention grabbing statement that there will be no more DPB for under-20's is , in fact, a retention of the status quo."

" The benefit (Mr English prefers to call it 'financial support') remains. The remuneration level stays the same. The availability will remain the same. Only the description changes; the recipient becomes 'a participant in a Youth Transition Programme.' "

"A requirement to make a 'commitment to parent or job training, or education ' is suitably vague - nearly as vague as a requirement to formulate 'working towards employment plans' which Labour will move to should it remain in government," Mitchell observes.

"It's all tinkering talk. The only positive outcome for National, should it be in a position to implement this policy, is that Bill English will be able to create a media headline which reads 'DPB numbers down under National.' "

Lindsay Mitchell
Petitioner for a Parliamentary review of the DPB

e-mail dandl.mitchell@clear.net.nz
ph/fx 04 562 7944

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