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Baroness Hollis of Heigham: Obviously we are in election purdah at the moment and that limits the extent to which government can properly make new announcements. But I am hoping that the White Paper will come forward some time next month. I had hoped it would be earlier but for the election purdah. If it is then so decided, I hope to see parliamentary legislation to that effect in the autumn programme. But that is not a decision for me. It is for the appropriate bodies to determine what goes into the Queen's Speech. That would be my hope.
However, it may be worth emphasising that the new proposals are highly dependent on having a robust computer system. We have had a lot of problems with computers within the DSS and the CSA. Indeed, the computers in the CSA do not talk to the computers in the Benefits Agency and information has to be swapped manually and so forth. Therefore, the timing of implementation, as opposed to the parliamentary timetable, will be heavily dependent on when the robustness of the computer system is ensured. I am sure the Committee will understand that we cannot afford for this to collapse through weak information systems. That is as helpful as I can be to the noble Lord at the moment.
Lord Higgins: The noble Baroness has been most forthcoming. I thank her for that and beg leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: I beg to move that the House be now resumed.
Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to.
- House adjourned at twenty-seven minutes past eleven o'clock.
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