Clause 41
Welfare Reform Bill
5:15 pm
Danny Alexander (Shadow Minister and Disability Spokesperson, Work & Pensions; Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, Liberal Democrat)
I do not need to detain the Committee for long on the amendments. They probe a simple point. I know that clause 41 is trying to do something slightly different from clause 40. It is about making provisions relating to the sharing of information for a specific purpose. The explanatory note covers supporting people grants. However, I want to probe the relatively loose use of language under paragraphs (d) and (g) in subsection (4), although I am sure that there is an intention behind it.
Incidentally, I am delighted to see the temporary promotion of the hon. Member for Colne Valley. I hope that, given her contribution to the Committee, that will soon be made permanent.
The clause refers twice to a person authorised to exercise “any function” of such an authority relating to housing benefit. The phrase “any function” is broad and I want, through the amendments, to probe what the Government mean by it. I look forward to the Minister’s response.