A system of assessments to encourage more people on benefits back into work is “not a financially-based exercise”, a minister has said.

Work and Pensions minister Chris Grayling said that work capability assessments were all about identifying people with the potential to work.

The government is seeking to reassess all 2.6 million people on incapacity benefit – and its successor, employment and support allowance (ESA) – by 2014.

Some charities criticised the move. Source

Will this effect you, how do you feel?

Key Points from the BBC:

1. Chancellor George Osborne has delivered the Budget in the House of Commons
2. Fuel duty to be cut by 1p and expected 4p rise cancelled – all paid for by a £2bn tax on oil companies
3. Further £600 increase in personal tax allowance from April 2012
4. Financial help for 10,000 first-time buyers to get on property ladder
5. Tobacco duty rates up by 2% above inflation from 28 March, and alcohol duty rises – 4p extra on a pint, 15p on a bottle of wine and 54p on a bottle of spirits
6. Forecast for how much UK economy will grow in 2011 downgraded

For live update on the Budget: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12759543

Great News for Europe from the BBC, come on Britain, time to follow!

The eurozone economy has emerged from recession after growing between July and September, figures have shown.

The 16 nations that use the euro collectively grew 0.4%, after shrinking by 0.2% between April and June.

The French and German economies both grew for a second consecutive quarter, confirming the eurozone’s two largest economies are out of recession.

However, both France and Germany grew by less than expected, a sign of how tentative signs of recovery remain.

The European Union as a whole – which includes non-eurozone countries such as the UK and Sweden – also emerged from recession, growing 0.2% in the third quarter.

Germany’s economy grew by 0.7% in the quarter, while France grew by 0.3%. Both economies and Japan ended year-long contractions in the second quarter of the year, while the US has since joined them after its economy grew in the third quarter.

However, the UK remains in recession, having contracted by 0.4% between July and September.

The UK, Europe’s second largest economy, has now contracted for six consecutive quarters, the first time this has happened since quarterly figures were first recorded in 1955.

Full story – http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8358227.stm