BOLTON has been targeted in an ambitious government scheme to find jobs for the disabled.

The town is one of 12 areas throughout Britain chosen to pilot an initiative which will see personal advisers aiming to get the disabled off benefits and back to work.

Secretary of State for Social Security Harriet Harman hopes the move - on top of a series of other reforms - will mean many of the 16,260 Bolton residents of working age currently receiving a variety of disability benefits can find jobs without losing out financially.

She said today: "The new approach is modern and radical, helping people to reach their full potential."

Part of the government reform package will see a benefits agency-based adviser start work in Bolton from October to help folk find jobs.

Other moves include changes to benefit rules removing disincentives to work and allowing the disabled to take unpaid voluntary work for more than 16 hours a week.

Further plans, due to go before Parliament in the current Social Security Bill, will allow residents to earn £15 on top of social security payments and "test" jobs for a trial period while remaining on benefit.

Other proposals include £200 grants for disabled folk finding work and weekly state payments of £50 to top up part-time wages. Ms Harman added: "This is welfare reform in action and has been achieved within the government's first year in office. It proves that the old approach of consigning people to a lifetime on benefits has gone forever."

The government announced its new approach as it pledged 2,000 new jobs for the handicapped would be found nationally through pro-disabled group the Shaw Trust.

The voluntary organisation has already helped provide work for 5,000 folk through partnership with business and the state.

But Ms Harman added it was vital companies continued to help if more disabled residents were to be taken off the dole queue.

"In government and in business we have a duty to recognise the skills and abilities of disabled people," she said.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.