Lone parents must not be forced into dead end jobs, say researchers

But the Institute of Public Policy Research warns against forcing people to hunt for jobs as in the US, saying many become locked into dead-end jobs.

It claims 780,000 parents will stay in poverty without more opportunities for flexible work and affordable childcare.

It also warns of cutting housing benefit over anti-social behaviour.

That - currently a government proposal - would lead to more difficulties because it would fail to root out the cause of the problem, it says.

European example

The institute's report, Sanctions and Sweeteners, looks to other European countries which it says have a better childcare infrastructure and higher benefits.

Kate Stanley, head of social policy at IPPR, said the think tank had conducted research in the US and Europe.

She told BBC News this showed such initiatives could have a "significant impact" on increasing parents' employment prospects and helping "lift the whole family out of poverty".

There's a big difference between incentivising and sanctioning them for failure to work Kate Stanley of IPRR

But she warned that other factors were helping the schemes be successful in other countries.

"That's in places where there is high quality children's care available and where the jobs are both secure and flexible," she said.

Ms Stanley said the IPRR was "not convinced" these factors were currently in place in the UK.

The government should concentrate on maintaining its "voluntary approach" rather than making people work to receive benefits, she said.

Voluntary schemes such as the 'New Deal for lone parents' were proving successful in returning people to work, she said.

The government should also concentrate on building the childcare infrastructure as well as provide training for parents while they are at work so they won't "end up in dead-end jobs", she added.

"There's a big difference between incentivising and sanctioning them for failure to work."