THE biggest challenge I faced during my time as Work and Pensions Secretary was the rising number of people on out of work benefits due to health problems or a disability.

We put in train significant reforms to address that trend.

After a long period of prevarication the new government is starting to realise it is not an issue which can be ignored. 

It is a profoundly important problem to solve for three principal reasons.

First, it is bad for our economy if there are fewer people working. Our local businesses and public services across Devon need staff.

Second, it costs taxpayers billions from extra spending on benefits and lost tax revenues.

Third, and perhaps most importantly, it is a human tragedy. Work is not just good for your finances, it is hugely positive for your mental and physical health.

Behind the statistics, there is so much wasted human potential and people in our own local community who could be happier and healthier if they were in a decent job.

Overall the UK does not do badly in terms of our labour market performance.

We have historically low unemployment.

On economic inactivity - that is, people not working and not currently looking for work - we still have a lower rate than the average across other developed countries, and lower now than in 2010. But there has been a specific rise in the numbers inactive due to health problems.

There are a number of theories as to what has been driving this, and there are likely a whole host of factors at play. But my time working on this in government showed me that it is vital we have a welfare system which gives people the right mixture of incentives and support, and brings together employment and health services wherever possible.

I announced reforms to sickness benefits and a new approach to GP fit notes, combined with rolling out new locally-led employment programmes across the country to place people in jobs and give them specialist support to stay there. 

The new government seem to be saying very similar things, despite their protestations that they are taking a completely new approach.

They have said they will maintain the plan I announced last year to save £3bn over four years from reforms to get over 400,000 fewer people on long-term sickness benefits.

What concerns me is that welfare reform is an iterative process.

They should not just be keeping the plans they inherited, they should be going further and building on them.

They have talked a lot about reforming job centres, but people on incapacity benefits are in most cases not going to the jobcentre.

And they have quietly confirmed they do not plan to take forward the further reforms to disability benefits I was consulting on when the election was called. 

At some point Labour will need to start coming up with some solid ideas of their own if they are to make any progress on this vital issue.