But shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Rachel Reeves accused Ms Smith of "complacency" and claimed that people would be better off out of work than in employment because of the government's "crazy ideas".

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Government officials have suggested doctors could be offered cash incentives and work alongside employment advisers to reduce the numbers out of work because on long-term sickness.

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If we got that, we'd be out of recession more quickly, growth would happen more fast, and of course employment would grow even higher.

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Paragraph 190 could only be invoked when a contract of employment remained in force and a doctor was serving out his notice, said the judge.

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Coupled with the poor state of most tribal economies, where employment may be largely seasonal or nonexistent, traditional home loans through banks are out of the question.

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The cap - which applies to England, Wales and Scotland and would be introduced from April 2013, applies to out-of-work benefits like Jobseeker's Allowance, and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

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