The Coalition Government has claimed that three quarters of people who claimed sickness benefit were fit to work.
Ian Duncan Smith, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, claimed that "anyone who is fit enough to make their way to the local job centre and fill out a claim form is fit enough to work" and as a result billions of pounds are expected to be wiped off the benefits bill in the next 5 years.
IDS announced new plans to get people previously labelled as "incapacitated" back to work.
Some of the more controversial proposals relate to claimants with mobility problems to be put to work as litter pickers - on the basis that the litter picker can double up as a walking stick.
Duncan Smith also suggests that wheelchair users could be gainfully employed in the carpet trade :
"I firmly believe that these chaps could do a fine job flattening these annoying ripples and bumps in carpets, thus freeing up time for tradesmen to do the difficult stuff".
