Clause 9
Welfare Reform Bill
4:15 pm
Tim Boswell (Shadow Minister, Work & Pensions; Daventry, Conservative)
Perhaps I can bring a fresh angle to this little discussion without reopening it and joining the Minister’s list. Our interest in this matter is, if the private sector is able to deliver a more cost-effective model—the Minister, fair-minded man as he is, is prepared to consider that it might be so—should the profit thereby generated be fed into additional or improved services or will it be pocketed by the contractor or the Minister and the Department in terms of a reduced funding requirement? I think the Minister will understand from the exchanges in the Committee that whatever the exact figure, there is a good deal of concern about the ability to operate this scheme. From what I saw of pathways, they are a resource-intensive activity—I am sure that he would concede that—but we need to ensure that we get the best possible value for money and that people, be they on one side or other of the equation, are properly covered for their requirements.