LONDON (AP) UK treasury chief George Osborne has used his Conservative Party conference speech to call for new rules governing how the long-term unemployed receive benefits.
The changes would require those who have been jobless for more than three years to do community service if they are to keep getting benefit payments.
Possible service would include picking up litter or removing graffiti.
Osborne said Monday the long-term unemployed could also satisfy requirements by attending job centers every day to look for work or by getting help for problems like illiteracy or drug dependence.
He said he is optimistic about Britain's financial recovery.
