I welcome the Minister’s remarks. The modern Conservative party supported the principles of the Bill, the details of which required non-partisan, thorough and vigilant scrutiny in Committee here and in another place. I believe that it has been given such scrutiny. It has been hugely assisted by the advice, wisdom...

I welcome the Minister’s remarks. The modern Conservative party supported the principles of the Bill, the details of which required non-partisan, thorough and vigilant scrutiny in Committee here and in another place. I believe that it has been given such scrutiny. It has been hugely assisted by the advice, wisdom...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his comments. Even at this stage, it is important to reassure him and others who consider our proceedings carefully. The revised PCA test seems to be working as expected. However, to clarify intentions, there has been a need to refine some of the wording...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his comments. Even at this stage, it is important to reassure him and others who consider our proceedings carefully. The revised PCA test seems to be working as expected. However, to clarify intentions, there has been a need to refine some of the wording...

I am pleased to report to the House that, just as the Bill left this place in a good condition, with a strong consensus, that approach was maintained in the other place, where all of those with a keen interest in this important issue played an important part in helping...

I am pleased to report to the House that, just as the Bill left this place in a good condition, with a strong consensus, that approach was maintained in the other place, where all of those with a keen interest in this important issue played an important part in helping...

I beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

I beg to move, That this House agrees with the Lords in the said amendment.

I am new to the deliberations on the Bill. I do not claim to know as much about the Bill or the arguments behind it as the Minister or his Conservative shadow, but my colleagues who do and who have been involved with it have asked me to convey their...

I am new to the deliberations on the Bill. I do not claim to know as much about the Bill or the arguments behind it as the Minister or his Conservative shadow, but my colleagues who do and who have been involved with it have asked me to convey their...

I thank the Minister for that. I associate myself with his charitable and generous comments about the work of the Under-Secretary. It was a delight to debate matters with her in Committee, and I think that our debates generated a lot of light. It is important to remind ourselves as...

I thank the Minister for that. I associate myself with his charitable and generous comments about the work of the Under-Secretary. It was a delight to debate matters with her in Committee, and I think that our debates generated a lot of light. It is important to remind ourselves as...

Welfare Reform Bill. Programme motion (No 4) for proceedings on consideration of Lords amendments. Lords amendments considered and agreed to.

Welfare Reform Bill. Programme motion (No 4) for proceedings on consideration of Lords amendments. Lords amendments considered and agreed to.

Letter dated 21/03/2007 from Lord McKenzie of Luton to Lord Oakshott of Seagrove Bay regarding the rules about permitted work in the Welfare Reform Bill.

Letter dated 21/03/2007 from Lord McKenzie of Luton to Lord Oakshott of Seagrove Bay regarding the rules about permitted work in the Welfare Reform Bill.

My Lords, what a powerful case that was. I have little to add to it. We debated this at some length in Grand Committee, and the noble Lord has drawn to considerable extent, as I would have done in my speech, on the Citizens Advice and Shelter briefing. We also...

My Lords, what a powerful case that was. I have little to add to it. We debated this at some length in Grand Committee, and the noble Lord has drawn to considerable extent, as I would have done in my speech, on the Citizens Advice and Shelter briefing. We also...

moved Amendment No. 81: 81: Clause 29 , page 20, line 21, at end insert— ““( ) The appropriate maximum housing benefit shall only vary for those aged under 21.”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, this amendment seeks to reduce youth homelessness, remove disincentives for young people to leave...

moved Amendment No. 81: 81: Clause 29 , page 20, line 21, at end insert— ““( ) The appropriate maximum housing benefit shall only vary for those aged under 21.”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, this amendment seeks to reduce youth homelessness, remove disincentives for young people to leave...

My Lords, that is encouraging and reassuring. I draw particular comfort in relation to my first and third questions from the Minister’s assurance that people will be migrated on a protected income equivalent to their existing cash benefit. The sting in the tail came when he said, ““provided that they...

My Lords, that is encouraging and reassuring. I draw particular comfort in relation to my first and third questions from the Minister’s assurance that people will be migrated on a protected income equivalent to their existing cash benefit. The sting in the tail came when he said, ““provided that they...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Low, for giving us a chance to talk about these important issues and for giving the noble Lord, Lord Skelmersdale, a chance to raise some items in an amendment that he either has not moved or has yet to move. The amendment...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Low, for giving us a chance to talk about these important issues and for giving the noble Lord, Lord Skelmersdale, a chance to raise some items in an amendment that he either has not moved or has yet to move. The amendment...

moved Amendment No. 68A: 68A: Schedule 4 , page 76, line 13, leave out paragraph (b) The noble Lord said: My Lords, the amendments that we have just agreed to might be technical but I do not intend to let them go through on the nod. Although they have already...

moved Amendment No. 68A: 68A: Schedule 4 , page 76, line 13, leave out paragraph (b) The noble Lord said: My Lords, the amendments that we have just agreed to might be technical but I do not intend to let them go through on the nod. Although they have already...

My Lords, this amendment allows me to probe how ESA will affect claimants currently receiving benefits other than incapacity benefit. We have already spoken a little about carers, and the Minister was able to give us some good news on that. My concern now is lone parents. Lone parents who...

My Lords, this amendment allows me to probe how ESA will affect claimants currently receiving benefits other than incapacity benefit. We have already spoken a little about carers, and the Minister was able to give us some good news on that. My concern now is lone parents. Lone parents who...

My Lords, I undertake to write to the noble Lord on those. On Question, amendment agreed to.

My Lords, I undertake to write to the noble Lord on those. On Question, amendment agreed to.

moved Amendments Nos. 53 to 68: 53: Schedule 4, page 74, line 31, leave out ““an existing benefit”” and insert ““incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance”” 54: Schedule 4, page 74, line 33, after ““claim”” insert ““for incapacity benefit, income support or severe disablement allowance”” 55: Schedule 4, page 74,...

moved Amendments Nos. 53 to 68: 53: Schedule 4, page 74, line 31, leave out ““an existing benefit”” and insert ““incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance”” 54: Schedule 4, page 74, line 33, after ““claim”” insert ““for incapacity benefit, income support or severe disablement allowance”” 55: Schedule 4, page 74,...

My Lords, my three questions were about Amendment No. 57, about paragraph 11 in total and about why leave out sub-paragraph (4) on page 76.

My Lords, my three questions were about Amendment No. 57, about paragraph 11 in total and about why leave out sub-paragraph (4) on page 76.

My Lords, the noble Lord has been assiduous in pursuing these details. He is quite right. I am sure that these technical amendments generally go through on the nod. I am happy to write to him in more detail and to expand on the focus of that amendment—or that part...

My Lords, the noble Lord has been assiduous in pursuing these details. He is quite right. I am sure that these technical amendments generally go through on the nod. I am happy to write to him in more detail and to expand on the focus of that amendment—or that part...

My Lords, before the Minister sits down, would he agree to write to me on those various points? I realise that I have rather bounced him. To an extent, I have rather bounced myself in these questions. However, these sorts of amendments often go through without any comment at all....

My Lords, before the Minister sits down, would he agree to write to me on those various points? I realise that I have rather bounced him. To an extent, I have rather bounced myself in these questions. However, these sorts of amendments often go through without any comment at all....