New clause 2 - Request for information
Social Security Fraud Bill [Lords]
6:15 pm
Mr Jeff Rooker (Minister of State, Department of Social Security; Birmingham, Perry Barr, Labour)
I should like to place on record that this has been a special Committee for you, Mr. Maxton, and for me, as it will be our last—I think; the pension credit Bill could come before the House before the election, as the election is not due until May next year. I thank you for the way in which you have presided over our proceedings. I thank my hon. Friends for their support, and Opposition Members, including both the Liberal Democrats and the hon. Member for Beckenham and her team, although we did not see most of its members.
I hope that no one will believe that we have railroaded the Bill through. We have tried in the time available to tease out—I hope that the Opposition have teased out of the Government—the key aspects about which people are worried. The Bill has had a good going over in Committee and in the other place. I thank you, Mr. Maxton, the Clerk, Hansard and the Department of Social Security team that has put the Bill together on behalf of the Government.