Welfare Reform Bill
10:30 am
Jim Murphy (Minister of State (Work), Department for Work and Pensions; East Renfrewshire, Labour)
I beg to move,
That—
(1) during proceedings on the Welfare Reform Bill the Standing Committee shall (in addition to its first meeting at 10.30 a.m. on Tuesday 17th October) meet—
(a) at 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday 17th October;
(b) at 9.10 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. on Thursday 19th October;
(c) at 10.30 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday 24th October;
(d) at 9.10 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. Thursday 26th October;
(e) at 10.30 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday 31st October;
(f) at 9.10 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. on Thursday 2nd November;
(g) at 10.30 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday 28th November;
(h) at 9.10 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. on Thursday 30th November;
(2) the proceedings shall be taken in the following order: Clause 1; Schedule 1; Clauses 2 to 20; Schedule 2; Clauses 21 to 25; Schedule 3; Clause 26; Schedule 4; new Clauses and new Schedules relating to Part 1; Clauses 27 to 37; Schedule 5; new Clauses and new Schedules relating to Part 2; Clauses 38 to 46; new Clauses and new Schedules relating to Part 3; Clauses 47 to 55; Schedule 6; Clauses 56 to 59; Schedule 7; new Clauses and new Schedules relating to Part 4; Clauses 60 to 63; Schedule 8; Clauses 64 to 67; remaining new Clauses and new Schedules; remaining proceedings on the Bill;
(3) the proceedings shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at 4.30 p.m. on Thursday 30th November.
Thank you, Mr. Amess. I am sure that I speak on behalf of everyone when I say that we are delighted to see you in your place for the first sitting of this important Committee. Your duties will be shared by Mr. Jimmy Hood, whom I also know to be an experienced Chairman of such proceedings.
It is generally accepted that the Bill is a very important and necessary piece of legislation. We have built into its proposals the support and consensus reflected on Second Reading and contained in the welfare reform Green Paper. The consultation on the Green Paper and the Government’s response to it will be reflected in our conversation and debate during the 16 sittings.
The basis of the Bill is that too many people have simply been written off as having no worthwhile contribution to make in our society, despite the fact that nine out of 10 people on incapacity benefits say that they wish for the opportunity to work. The Bill seeks to give effect to that overwhelming aspiration of those on incapacity benefit.
I am pleased to be joined by the Minister with responsibility for disabled people, the Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my hon. Friend the Member for Stirling (Mrs. McGuire). She has a great deal of experience on the issues that the Committee will seek to address.
Thus far—it may continue, but I do not wish to tempt fate—there has been a sense of co-operation both inside and outside the House about the principles and specifics of the Bill’s proposals. That spirit extended itself to the Programming Sub-Committee’s resolution.