Clause 3
Welfare Reform Bill
6:30 pm
Danny Alexander (Shadow Minister and Disability Spokesperson, Work & Pensions; Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, Liberal Democrat)
I beg to move amendment No. 189, in clause 3, page 3, line 23, at end insert—
‘(e) make provision for the disregard of payments made in accordance with subsection (1)(c)’.
The amendment relates to an issue that we touched upon earlier this morning. It is about the need to encourage disabled people to take part in public life, particularly through appointments to or elected offices in local government. I seek to clarify the Government’s intentions towards the treatment of any income or expenses payable to people engaged in public appointments, for example as local councillors or in similar roles. I shall be grateful for the Minister’s response to these points.
Under the rules on incapacity benefit, any work that is done in the role of local authority councillor is disregarded when deciding whether someone is incapable of work. Councillors’ allowances are taken into account, and they reduce the amount of benefit payable if they exceed the earnings limit of £86 a week. Will the Minister clarify the Government’s intentions, particularly in relation to whether existing provisions for incapacity benefit for councillors will be carried over into both components of ESA, whether income-related or contribution-related?
I shall be grateful if the Minister will also say whether the rules could be extended to a limited range of other public appointments, because participation in civic and community life can be important in increasing the opportunities for disabled people to make a recognised contribution, to interact with non-disabled people and to acquire new experience and confidence which may help them to find employment. On average, only 3 per cent. of appointees to public bodies are disabled. Real and perceived disincentives in the benefits system can prevent benefit recipients from contributing to society in that way. At the moment, for example, people who do so may feel that they risk being invited for another personal capability assessment which could then question their entitlement to benefit in the first place and benefit could cease if expenses in relation to public office amount to more than the permitted work limits per week.
I shall be grateful if the Minister will clarify whether the current rules for councillors will apply under ESA and whether he will consider having further discussions about a limited range of additional public appointments to which similar rules apply for the purpose of ensuring that disabled people are not faced with further disincentives to take part in public life.