Should idle obese lose benefits?

Overweight or unhealthy people who refuse to attend exercise sessions prescribed by doctors could face having their benefits docked under proposals from Conservative-controlled Westminster Council.

More responsibility for community wellbeing and public health is being transferred to local authorities from Primary Care Trusts and similar schemes may also be looked at in other parts of the UK.

Jonathan Carr-West, head of the Local Government Information Unit, spoke to the BBC to explain the thinking behind the plans.