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Welfare Reform Bill

Thank you very much—and don't worry, because there's plenty more to come. This issue is not just about reform of the welfare state as that affects the Department for Work and Pensions, because unless we take this across Government, it will not work. Housing, health, transport and education are vital to the people I am talking about. The DWP can do its bit right, but if the other Departments do not, these people will not be able to access work. I will close with one example. Daniel, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, goes to a school where every week he gets hydrotherapy, which is vital in helping him to breathe; it is much better than all the medication he is on. The only problem is that when the school is on holiday, he does not get it. Can we imagine somebody on life-saving drugs being told, ““The chemist's going on holiday for the next six weeks; don't come back””? That is what we are talking about. I am very pleased the Minister said yes, and I hope he keeps on saying yes. Let me share one last thought. We talk about people being on benefits, but we do not mean that—what we mean is people who are on payments. We should talk about benefits, however. The dictionary definition of ““benefit”” is:"““Something that promotes or enhances well-being… A kindly deed…To be helpful or useful to.””" If we use that terminology for benefits, this country will be a much better place to live in.