Clause 14
Welfare Reform Bill
10:30 am
Adam Afriyie (Windsor, Conservative)
I have three or four brief points to raise with the Under-Secretary, which relate to the mandatory nature of work-related activity. The notes on the Bill state that when mandatory work-related activity is introduced, it will apply to most claimants in the work-related activity group. I want reassurance that we are not returning to the days of the workhouse when people were instructed to undertake certain types of work-related activity. I would be concerned about the state of mind of people in that position, especially those in vulnerable groups who have mental health challenges but who are not in the long-term support group.
My second concern is that the requirements placed on claimants will be further developed in the light of the pathways to work experience. Without the final report on that programme, which I think will be published next year, how confident can we be that the interim results will deliver the right types of new requirements that will be suitable for people in the work-related group?
Thirdly, I seek clarification on clause 14(3), which seems to allow the Secretary of State to vary or revoke retrospectively a determination of what is a work-related activity. I am always slightly wary of retrospective directions or determinations and I hope that the Under-Secretary will be able to reassure me in that respect or perhaps give an example of why the clause is in the Bill.