I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Turner, and I support her in this endeavour—rare though that might seem to some of your Lordships. To be strictly accurate, my right honourable friend the Leader of the Opposition has done rather more than support this amendment; what he did was...

I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Turner, and I support her in this endeavour—rare though that might seem to some of your Lordships. To be strictly accurate, my right honourable friend the Leader of the Opposition has done rather more than support this amendment; what he did was...

Amendment 161A 161A: After Clause 28, insert the following new Clause— "Income-related benefits In section 123(1)(e) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c. 4) (income-related benefits), for "council tax benefit" substitute "council tax rebate"."

Amendment 161A 161A: After Clause 28, insert the following new Clause— "Income-related benefits In section 123(1)(e) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c. 4) (income-related benefits), for "council tax benefit" substitute "council tax rebate"."

I am very grateful.

I am very grateful.

I am not sure whether the Minister was choosing his words particularly carefully when he said, "I am sure we will return". Does that mean led by him, or does it mean led by Members of the Committee, who by that stage will of course be Members of the House?

I am not sure whether the Minister was choosing his words particularly carefully when he said, "I am sure we will return". Does that mean led by him, or does it mean led by Members of the Committee, who by that stage will of course be Members of the House?

Without having any great expertise on this particular issue, the basic issue is whether the services should be provider or user-led. I think that we are seeking that they should be user-led.

Without having any great expertise on this particular issue, the basic issue is whether the services should be provider or user-led. I think that we are seeking that they should be user-led.

I thank the noble Baroness for the amendment. I am pleased that it is her favourite as it is the one on which I can respond most fully from the Government’s point of view in the way that she has anticipated. I know that there has been engagement on these...

I thank the noble Baroness for the amendment. I am pleased that it is her favourite as it is the one on which I can respond most fully from the Government’s point of view in the way that she has anticipated. I know that there has been engagement on these...

We, in this context, are the Government. As in all of these things, I am very happy to have a shared conversation.

We, in this context, are the Government. As in all of these things, I am very happy to have a shared conversation.

Amendment 167 167: Clause 34, page 40, line 34, leave out subsection (3)

Amendment 167 167: Clause 34, page 40, line 34, leave out subsection (3)

Having had several interesting and instructive debates about the merits of direct control, the benefits that will accrue to the individuals affected and the extent to which funding streams should be included, Amendments 167 and 169 deal with the implementation of right to control schemes. In a previous debate, we...

Having had several interesting and instructive debates about the merits of direct control, the benefits that will accrue to the individuals affected and the extent to which funding streams should be included, Amendments 167 and 169 deal with the implementation of right to control schemes. In a previous debate, we...

Is the phrase "in all the circumstances" going to be spelt out in regulations?

Is the phrase "in all the circumstances" going to be spelt out in regulations?

I am not going to hold the Committee up by supporting the amendment again at too great a length, but of course I absolutely support it. As a co-founder of the National Centre for Independent Living—for 10 years that organisation has developed to assist support schemes to develop, grow and...

I am not going to hold the Committee up by supporting the amendment again at too great a length, but of course I absolutely support it. As a co-founder of the National Centre for Independent Living—for 10 years that organisation has developed to assist support schemes to develop, grow and...

If the Committee will indulge me, I will repeat an incident that happened to me over Easter when I was with a friend, who is a patron of a wonderful charity in my city. It helps disabled children and disabled adults with learning difficulties. Since it was the holidays, children...

If the Committee will indulge me, I will repeat an incident that happened to me over Easter when I was with a friend, who is a patron of a wonderful charity in my city. It helps disabled children and disabled adults with learning difficulties. Since it was the holidays, children...

The noble Baroness, Lady Campbell, started with what I can only describe as a devastating critique of joined-up government in the area of services for disabled people, and of course she is absolutely right. The Bill holds out absolutely no help to us at all. In England, there is to...

The noble Baroness, Lady Campbell, started with what I can only describe as a devastating critique of joined-up government in the area of services for disabled people, and of course she is absolutely right. The Bill holds out absolutely no help to us at all. In England, there is to...

I picked up three things from what the Minister said. First, he spoke of putting people first, and in this case disabled people. Nobody could take exception to that. Secondly, the Government want to avoid confusion by the duplication of existing powers. We are complaining that existing powers are not...

I picked up three things from what the Minister said. First, he spoke of putting people first, and in this case disabled people. Nobody could take exception to that. Secondly, the Government want to avoid confusion by the duplication of existing powers. We are complaining that existing powers are not...

The Minister pointed out that sanctions already exist in the field of actively seeking work under the Jobseekers Act 1995. One can readily understand that the regime will be slightly different when applied to the Clause 2 group, the progression-to-work group. It would be extremely helpful if I and perhaps...

The Minister pointed out that sanctions already exist in the field of actively seeking work under the Jobseekers Act 1995. One can readily understand that the regime will be slightly different when applied to the Clause 2 group, the progression-to-work group. It would be extremely helpful if I and perhaps...

Clause 26: Attendance in connection with jobseeker's allowance: sanctions Amendment 158 158: Clause 26, page 35, line 11, at end insert— "but only after a clear warning letter and explanation of the initial instance of failure to comply has been issued to the claimant"

Clause 26: Attendance in connection with jobseeker's allowance: sanctions Amendment 158 158: Clause 26, page 35, line 11, at end insert— "but only after a clear warning letter and explanation of the initial instance of failure to comply has been issued to the claimant"

In moving the amendment, I am well aware that the Minister has said in terms that the first sanction for jobseeker’s allowance will be a warning letter. However, I have not withdrawn the amendment because it should be in the Bill. In the chapter of his report entitled "The Role...

In moving the amendment, I am well aware that the Minister has said in terms that the first sanction for jobseeker’s allowance will be a warning letter. However, I have not withdrawn the amendment because it should be in the Bill. In the chapter of his report entitled "The Role...

Speaking for myself, I strongly support this amendment. It removes the exclusion of community care services and funding from the ambit of right to control. It makes no sense for a scheme that is all about ending fragmentation and introducing a seamless approach to support planning to explicitly exclude such...

Speaking for myself, I strongly support this amendment. It removes the exclusion of community care services and funding from the ambit of right to control. It makes no sense for a scheme that is all about ending fragmentation and introducing a seamless approach to support planning to explicitly exclude such...

I thank the noble Lord, Lord Skelmersdale, for the amendments, whose effect would be to make the disqualification of liable persons from holding or obtaining a travel authorisation, as set out in Clause 42, subject to a two-year pilot. Clause 43 currently makes provision for a two-year pilot only in...

I thank the noble Lord, Lord Skelmersdale, for the amendments, whose effect would be to make the disqualification of liable persons from holding or obtaining a travel authorisation, as set out in Clause 42, subject to a two-year pilot. Clause 43 currently makes provision for a two-year pilot only in...

I should be delighted to talk quietly later and, if the noble Lord would wish it, to write to him. The missive in my hand tells me that the lady whom we are talking about would be able to claim an exemption only if she could not provide enough information...

I should be delighted to talk quietly later and, if the noble Lord would wish it, to write to him. The missive in my hand tells me that the lady whom we are talking about would be able to claim an exemption only if she could not provide enough information...