Clause 15
Welfare Reform Bill
4:30 pm
Jim Murphy (Minister of State (Work), Department for Work and Pensions; East Renfrewshire, Labour)
I will say it gently, rather than Ruffley, of course. I have been making that joke throughout the Committee, but it has taken hon. Members until now to realise.
Current customers on IB are able to access the support available in pathways in 40 per cent. of the country. As it is rolled out—before 2008 and before ESA is in existence—current IB customers will beable to access the support that is available in pathways. The distinction that the hon. Member for BurySt. Edmunds (Mr. Ruffley) reasonably raises as a concern, will not be there, because ESA is the benefit structure, and pathways, when it is on the ground across 100 per cent. of the United Kingdom, will be the enabling—