Deputy PM Nick Clegg discusses benefit caps and NHS reform

The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, has defended government proposals for a £500 a week benefit cap.

The idea will be discussed in the House of Lords tomorrow as part of the coalition's proposed welfare reforms programme.

Speaking on the Andrew Marr show, Mr Clegg said he believed the measures would encourage people who are able to work to seek employment.

On the subject of proposed government reforms of the NHS in England, he said that they were necessary to improve the health service, adding that the government had "gone a long way to allay concerns that people had about the original blue print for reform".

His comments come amid reports that a group of senior MPs is likely to be critical of the coalition's controversial plans to re-shape the health system in a report to be published this week.