Clause 12
Welfare Reform Bill
1:45 pm
Jim Murphy (Minister of State (Work), Department for Work and Pensions; East Renfrewshire, Labour)
We will discuss action plans when we consider the next clause, so I shall not go into great detail. I think that there is some confusion about the nature of the plans, which is entirely understandable. When we come to the next clause, some clarification can be provided on the interaction between work-focused interviews, sanctions, work-related activity, work-focused health-related assessment and action plans. I can reassure Opposition Members, as well as my hon. Friends, about the relationships between those elements.
As hon. Members have said, the explanatory notes provide a list of activities that would be considered work-related. It is not an exhaustive list. The following broad headings are given in the paperwork: work tasters; managing health and work; improving employability; job search assistance—not compelling a job search, but providing assistance—and, importantly, stabilising life. Under those headings there are additional, specific examples of work-related activity. As a general understanding, the tone of the draft regulations is that a work-related activity would take the customer closer to the labour market. That would be the saloon bar description.
I can reassure the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey about the specifics of protections. I accept that his is a probing amendment. Perhaps, Mr. Amess, you will allow me to give a general reassurance on this occasion, so that when we move to other clauses, hon. Members will accept that it has been given.
As to protecting customers, clause 11 identifies sanctions or safeguards that also feature on page 6 of the draft regulations. Broadly speaking, such safeguards would apply in relation to what we have described as “good cause”, including work-focused interviews and so on. Such matters are dealt with in the draft regulations and clause 12. I hope that that reassures Opposition Members. In addition, there will be a right of appeal, as with all financial sanctions.
With that broad reassurance on a number of matters relating to a variety of amendments to the clause, I hope that I have encouraged the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey to withdraw his probing amendment. I also hope that other Opposition Members who have tabled amendments will be reassured by my comments as we discuss future amendments.