Public Bill Committee: 24 February 2009

76

Welfare Reform Bill, continued

Paul Rowen

110

Schedule  3,  page  70,  line  20,  leave out paragraph (3).

Paul Rowen

111

Schedule  3,  page  72,  line  17,  at end insert—

‘(5A)

For the purposes of paragraph 5 a person may not be required to attend for either

residential or non-residential treatment institution if—

(a)	such treatment would amount to a requirement to comply with a

particular form of treatment, or

(b)	such treatment would amount to a requirement to comply with a

particular belief system, philosophy or religion, or

(c)	they have not given their informed consent.’.

Paul Rowen

112

Schedule  3,  page  74,  line  25,  at end insert—

‘( )	An income based jobseeker’s allowance will be payable in these circumstances

if, in the opinion of a suitably qualified person, there is no good reason to believe

that enforcement of a benefit sanction would worsen or prolong the person’s drug

problem.’.

Paul Rowen

113

Schedule  3,  page  75,  line  22,  at end insert—

‘(3A)

The report must include information concerning the number of—

(a)	people subject to investigation and assessment,

(b)	claimants identified as dependent on drugs through investigation and

assessment,

(c)	complaints about and successful appeals against decisions reached

through this process,

(d)	claimants subject to sanctions for failing to comply with the processes for

investigation and assessment,

(e)	claimants required to comply with a rehabilitation plan and the forms of

treatment they have been required to comply with,

(f)	complaints about and successful appeals against the conditions set out in

rehabilitation plans,

(g)	claimaints subject to sanctions for failing to comply with a rehabilitation

plan,

(h)	claimaints who receive full jobseekers allowance despite being subject to

sanctions in circumstances such as hardship, and

(i)	claimants who were not sanctioned because a suitably qualified person

judged that such sanctions would worsen or prolong their drug problem.

(3B)	The report must further provide details concerning—

(a)	the impact of any sanctions imposed, and particularly their impact on

children and families,

(b)	treatment outcomes for persons required to comply with rehabilitation

plans, and

(c)	training and employment outcomes for persons required to comply with

rehabilitation plans.’.

Public Bill Committee: 24 February 2009

77

Welfare Reform Bill, continued

Mr James Clappison

Mr Mark Harper

Mr John Baron

77

Schedule  3,  page  81,  line  39,  after ‘requirement’, insert ‘which must include the

person’s health at the time of the failure to comply.’.

Paul Rowen

54

Page  68,  line  21,  leave out Schedule 3.

Paul Rowen

56

Clause  12,  page  16,  line  43,  leave out subsection (b).

Mr James Clappison

Mr Mark Harper

Mr John Baron

16

Clause  13,  page  17,  line  38,  leave out paragraph (b).

Paul Rowen

55

Clause  13,  page  17,  line  38,  at end insert ‘and

(c)	in respect of any sums charged as interest on the loans.’.

Mr James Clappison

Mr Mark Harper

Mr John Baron

17

Clause  13,  page  18,  line  38,  at end insert ‘which shall include the number and value

of the loans made by each lender, the total amount of interest paid to the lender in respect

of them and the total value of loans repaid.’.

Mr James Plaskitt

66

Clause  13,  page  18,  line  40,  at end insert—

‘140ZD

Individual social fund accounts

(1)	The Secretary of State may establish a system of individual social fund accounts

for qualifying persons.

(2)	The Secretary of State may designate external providers to provide financial

advice to holders of individual social fund accounts.

(3)	Individual social fund accounts shall be used to provide budgeting loans from the

social fund.

Public Bill Committee: 24 February 2009

78

Welfare Reform Bill, continued

(4)	An individual social fund account which meets the requirements of the Saving

Gateway Accounts Act 2009 may be designated as a Saving Gateway account.

(5)	The Secretary of State may prescribe the conditions under which a designated

external provider may advance funds to the Secretary of State for the provision of

social fund budgeting loans.

(6)	A designated external provider may make a qualifying loan to an eligible person

from that person’s individual social fund account.

(7)	The Secretary of State may prescribe conditions under which deductions may be

made from an eligible person’s relevant benefits for the repayment of the amount

of the qualifying loan to the individual social fund account of the eligible person

and to recover the allowable costs of the external provider.

(8)	The Secretary of State may make regulations—

(a)	to establish a system of individual social fund accounts and to set out

criteria for qualifying persons under subsection (1),

(b)	to specify criteria for the designation of external providers under

subsection (2),

(c)	to prescribe the conditions under subsection (5), and

(d)	to prescribe conditions under which deductions may be made from an

eligible person’s relevant benefits for the repayment of the amount of the

qualifying loan under subsection (7).’.

Paul Rowen

42

Page  19,  line  22,  leave out Clause 14.

Mr James Clappison

Mr Mark Harper

Mr John Baron

18

Clause  16,  page  21,  line  7,  at end add—

‘(8)    

(a)	the Secretary of State shall prepare an Annual report on the operation of

the arrangements relating to the community care grants and shall include

in that report details of the number and value of the community care

grants awarded,

(b)	a copy of every such report shall be laid before each House of

Parliament.’.

Mr James Clappison

Mr Mark Harper

Mr John Baron

19

Clause  19,  page  25,  line  18,  at end insert—

Public Bill Committee: 24 February 2009

79

Welfare Reform Bill, continued

‘(10A)

A statutory instrument containing regulations made by the Secretary of State

under subsections (6), (7), (8), (9) or (10) shall not be made unless a draft of the

instrument has been laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each

House.’.

Paul Rowen

63

Clause  19,  page  25,  line  41,  at end insert—

‘(14)

Sanctionable benefits shall be returned to the claimant with compensation where

the benefit offence is attributable to a mistake made by the Secretary of State or

anyone acting under his authority as provided in paragraphs (1) to (11) above’.

Tony McNulty

94

Clause  19,  page  23,  line  45,  leave out ‘in England and Wales or Northern Ireland,’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment ensures that the loss of benefit provisions in new section 6B of the Social Security

Fraud Act 2001 apply where a person in Scotland is cautioned for a benefit offence. As currently

drafted, they apply to cautions in England and Wales or Northern Ireland, but not in Scotland.

Tony McNulty

95

Clause  19,  page  26,  line  46,  after ‘sentenced)’ insert ‘or in the case mentioned in

paragraph (b)(ii) the date of the order for absolute discharge’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment is consequential upon amendment 96.

Tony McNulty

96

Clause  19,  page  26,  line  47,  leave out from second ‘to’ to end of line 49 and

insert—

‘(i)	a conviction in relation to which the court makes an order for

absolute or conditional discharge or a court in Scotland makes a

probation order,

(ii)	an order for absolute discharge made by a court of summary

jurisdiction in Scotland under section 246(3) of the Criminal

Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 without proceeding to a

conviction, and

(iii)

’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment ensures that new section 6B of the 2001 Act applies where a person is convicted

of a benefit offence, but the court makes an order for absolute discharge. See also amendment 97.

Tony McNulty

97

Schedule  4,  page  84,  line  15,  at end insert—

‘( )	In subsection (9)—

(a)	in paragraph (a), after “sentenced)” insert “or in the case mentioned in

paragraph (b)(ii) the date of the order for absolute discharge”, and

Public Bill Committee: 24 February 2009

80

Welfare Reform Bill, continued

(b)	for paragraph (b) substitute—

“(b)	references to a conviction include references to—

(i)	a conviction in relation to which the court

makes an order for absolute or conditional

discharge or a court in Scotland makes a

probation order,

(ii)	an order for absolute discharge made by a

court of summary jurisdiction in Scotland

under section 246(3) of the Criminal

Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 without

proceeding to a conviction, and

(iii)

a conviction in Northern Ireland.”.’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amends section 7 of the Social Security Fraud Act 2001 so as to ensure that its provisions

apply where a person is convicted of a benefit offence, but the court makes an order for absolute

discharge. See also amendments 95 and 96.

Tony McNulty

98

Schedule  4,  page  86,  line  35,  leave out ‘6B(7)’ and insert ‘6B(6)’.

Member’s explanatory statement

This amendment ensures that the affirmative Parliamentary procedure applies to the regulation-

making power in new section 6B(6) of the Social Security Fraud Act 2001 (inserted by clause 19).

The existing reference to new section 6B(7) is incorrect.

Paul Rowen

60

Clause  21,  page  30,  line  16,  after ‘credit’, insert ‘and Carer Addition.’.

Paul Rowen

61

Clause  21,  page  30,  line  18,  after ‘credit’, insert ‘and Carer Addition.’.

Mr James Clappison

Mr Mark Harper

Mr John Baron

20

Clause  21,  page  31,  line  10,  at end add—

‘(3A)

Within six months of the expiry of the specified period referred to in subsection

(1), the Secretary of State shall lay before each House of Parliament a report on

the operation of the state pension credit pilot schemes established under these

provisions.’.

Paul Rowen

67

Clause  23,  page  33,  line  3,  at end insert—

Public Bill Committee: 24 February 2009

81

Welfare Reform Bill, continued

‘(d)	shall specify the level of training required to meet the needs of claimants

with mental and/or physical disabilities,

(e)	shall specify the level of training required to meet the needs of claimants

with caring responsibilities,

(f)	shall specify the level of training required to meet the needs of claimants

with drug dependency and alcohol issues,

(g)	shall specify the level of training required to meet the needs of claimants

who are lone parents with dependant children, and

(h)	shall specify the level of training required to meet the needs of claimants

who are lone parents and have been victims of domestic violence.’.

Mr James Clappison

Mr Mark Harper

Mr John Baron

21

Clause  23,  page  33,  line  11,  leave out paragraph (a).

Paul Rowen

87

Clause  24,  page  34,  line  28,  after ‘cause’, insert ‘(which shall include situations

where the failure was caused by a long-term or fluctuating mental health problem)’.

Paul Rowen

64

Clause  26,  page  36,  line  14,  at end insert—

‘(5)	In section 23A(3) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c.

4) for paragraph (c) substitute—

“(c)	unpaid care for a grandchild aged under 12 or an ill, frail or

disabled family member, friend or partner for 20 hours per week

or more.”’.

Mr James Clappison

Mr Mark Harper

Mr John Baron

23

Clause  28,  page  36,  line  37,  leave out ‘aged 18 or over’.

Paul Rowen

71

Clause  28,  page  36,  line  41,  at end insert—

Public Bill Committee: 24 February 2009

82

Welfare Reform Bill, continued

‘(1)	When P is exercising his rights under this Part the relevant authority shall be

subject to a duty to cooperate with P.’.

Mr James Clappison

Mr Mark Harper

Mr John Baron

Paul Rowen

24

Clause  29,  page  37,  line  14,  at end insert—

‘(h)	the provision of care services and community care for P.’.

Mr James Clappison

Mr Mark Harper

Mr John Baron

25

Clause  29,  page  37,  line  20,  leave out subsections (5) and (6).

Paul Rowen

70

Clause  29,  page  37,  line  20,  after ‘services’, insert ‘, unless such exclusion would

prevent P from achieving the matters set out in subsection (2)’.

Paul Rowen

49

Clause  29,  page  37,  line  21,  leave out subsection (a).

Mr James Clappison

Mr Mark Harper

Mr John Baron

79

Clause  31,  page  38,  line  21,  at end insert ‘including, in particular, making

arrangements with voluntary organisations to provide disabled persons with assistance in

connection with direct payments.’.

Mr James Clappison

Mr Mark Harper

Mr John Baron

Paul Rowen

26

Clause  31,  page  38,  line  23,  after ‘person’, insert ‘, including a person with a

disability caused by mental health problems,’.

Mr James Clappison

Mr Mark Harper

Mr John Baron

27

Clause  31,  page  38,  line  23,  leave out ‘in prescribed circumstances’.

---

Revised 24 February 2009