Welfare Reform Bill

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 3:15 pm on 19 March 2007.

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Photo of Baroness Thomas of Winchester Baroness Thomas of Winchester Liberal Democrat 3:15, 19 March 2007

moved Amendment No. 3:

After Clause 1 , insert the following new Clause—

"Public involvement

(1) This section applies where a person in receipt of employment and support allowance who is a service user is asked by a public, charitable or educational body concerned with health or social care to advise on service standards and delivery.

(2) The Secretary of State may make regulations providing that—

(a) a person who provides advice under subsection (1) shall be treated as having limited capability for work under section 8 in relation to the activities undertaken in pursuance of subsection (1) if he would otherwise be so treated; (b) in the case of contributory allowance or an income related allowance, any fee received in recognition of the service undertaken shall be subject to such disregard and averaging as may be prescribed; (c) in the case of contributory allowance or an income related allowance, reimbursed expenses shall be disregarded as income in such cases as may be prescribed; and (d) regulations made under section 16(3)(a) shall not apply in relation to advice undertaken in accordance with this section.

(3) In this section "service user" means a person with current experience of using or requiring public services relating to their ill-health, disability or caring responsibilities."