New Clause 15
Welfare Reform Bill
10:15 am
Danny Alexander (Shadow Minister and Disability Spokesperson, Work & Pensions; Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, Liberal Democrat)
I wanted to say that there has been a remarkable spirit of consensus. I concur with the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds: we have had high-quality debates and useful exchanges. In many cases, we have solicited from Ministers useful clarification that has been important for the many organisations outside the House that pay close attention to our proceedings. I am grateful for the support of some of those, in terms of research and briefing, not least the Disability Rights Commission, the Child Poverty Action Group, Citizens Advice, Shelter and many other disability charities that the hon. Member for Glasgow, North-West listed under a previous new clause. I do not intend to repeat that list—merely to echo the compliments that he passed to those worthwhile, important organisations.
It only remains for me to echo other hon. Members’ remarks in respect of Government officials, the Clerks, and all the other servants of the House, who have made our proceedings so procedurally flawless and allowed it to progress with great smoothness. Of course, I thank Hansard as well for the transcriptions of our debates, which are also of great use to those outside the House.