Public shun 'stick and carrot' state

Tony Blair's plans to introduce more "sticks and carrots" into the provision of state-funded services have been rejected by the public.

A representative panel of 70 ordinary people who took part in the Government's policy review agreed that citizens had responsibilities as well as rights. But when they debated how that should be turned into policy, they favoured a "softly, softly" approach.

The verdict is a setback for Mr Blair, who wants changes such as cutting the benefits of single mothers who do not look for work when their eldest child reaches the age of 12. At present, this sanction does not apply until they are 16.

Ipsos MORI, the pollsters who convened the group, said in a report that people were "cautious about going too far in trying to turn these rights and responsibilities into simple rewards and sanctions". It added: "At the outset of the process, people were keener to punish bad behaviour but on discussion moved strongly towards support and encouragement for behaviour change."

Initially, four in 10 people wanted to use specific "sticks and carrots" to get young people into education or training. After a discussion, the number backing a softer approach rose.

Rewarding and punishing parents for their children's behaviour was initially supported but after debate the number backing parenting classes doubled from three to six in 10.

Mr Blair said: "The vision at the heart of these reforms is to create self-standing institutions of public service, independent of state control, based on public private voluntary provision. They should be free to develop in the way they need to, accountable to the use of free choice, and with a flexible workforce able to innovate and change."