GCXZ

The plans, drafted by Martin van Rijn, a Dutch health minister, would mean that recipients of social care would be "urgently requested" to carry out voluntary work to do something for society in payment for the benefits they receive.

Unlike the Dutch unemployed, who can be obliged to do community service, the elderly, disabled or chronically sick cannot be forced to volunteer but local councils, who provide care, will be entitled to ask in an "intrusive manner" to work.

"Elderly people, who receive care, are not necessarily sick and pathetic. The way some talk about needy seniors places them outside society," she said. "I think everyone wants to be useful, Infirm or not."

Under the new proposals, it will also be up to municipalities to assess what services people are entitled to, how much they should pay and whether family, friends and neighbours should be enlisted to help provide care.

"The government is of the opinion that it is quite normal for people to try to improve their own situations or to help their partners or family members who cannot participate fully in society by themselves," the proposal said. "The government will no longer automatically take on this role."

Local councils are being given a budget of £9.4 billion (€11.2bn) to fund home care services for 750,000 people, a spending cut of £1.7bn (ﾀ2bn) as part of Dutch austerity measures required by the European Union under eurozone budgetary enforcement powers.

Announcing the end of the "classical welfare state" while presenting the government's austerity budget last month, the new Dutch King Willem-Alexander, hailed a new "participation society in social security and long-term care".

In a keynote speech on welfare reform in June, Mr Cameron praised the Netherlands as a model for Britain because its "emphasis on family responsibility is much stronger".

Proposals from the Conservative leader on removing benefits from youn unmeployed people this week were based on Dutch reforms.