The Workhouse Test Act also known as the General Act or Knatchbull's Act[1] was poor relief legislation passed by the British government by Sir Edward Knatchbull in 1723. The 'workhouse test' was that a person who wanted to receive poor relief had to enter a workhouse and undertake a set amount of work. The test was intended to prevent irresponsible claims on a parish's poor rate.

Knatchbulls legislation For Amending the Laws relating to Settlement, Employment and Relief of the Poor marked the first emergence of the workhouse test although this principle was adopted more fully after the passing of the Poor Law Amendment Act.

Under the proposals, a Tory government would set a new, two-year limit for jobless welfare claimants, after which time they would have to join a mandatory, year-long community work programme - cleaning streets and public buildings of graffiti and chewing gum for example - or face losing their payments.

The two year period would be cumulative, not just continuous periods out of work, in an attempt to stop people signing off for short periods only to go back on benefits.

New, privately-run, "back-to-work" centres would also be created around the country to offer the jobless help in finding work and making job applications.

They would be expected to spend most of the working week at the centres.

After two years, if they were still jobless and refused community work, they would lose their benefits.

Josef K wrote:If it has a purpose other than 'busy work' then, yes, it's a good idea. If it gives someone experience to better compete in the job market then, yes, there's a purpose to it and it'll provide society and the individual with some net benefit.