Clause 2
Welfare Reform Bill
4:30 pm
Jeremy Hunt (Shadow Minister (the Disabled), Work & Pensions; South West Surrey, Conservative)
I want to speak briefly because the hon. Gentleman has raised some interesting points. On the precise level of the benefit, can the Minister confirm whether he intends that people who go on to ESA on an income-related and contributory basis will be given the same level of benefit? Obviously, the income-related basis will take them up to a certain level of income, but the intention is that that level should be the same. I am concerned about minimising complexity in a system that is already complicated.
On the level of benefits and ensuring that people do not lose out, I notice that the intention is that people on the support element of the package will receive slightly more than those on the work-related element. It is extremely welcome that people with the severest disabilities will be given additional help, but it is also the Government’s intention that people should transfer from the support element of the package to the work-related element. One case study in the regulations is of someone who transfers from one to the other. Was there any evidence in any of the pilots that people are deterred from transferring from the support element to the work-related element because of the small reduction in benefits? That would be of great concern as the purpose of the Bill is to move people towards the world of work.