---

Welfare Reform Bill

I also support the amendment. As will be recalled, we discussed lone parents earlier in the passage of the Bill. I took the view at the very beginning that lone parents ought to have a choice as to whether they spend their time looking after their children or try to access a work environment in some way or other. The amendment comes to terms with that choice. Many lone parents want flexibility. They want to be able to decide how little work they can do and not lose any benefit, which this amendment is designed to enable. It would therefore be desirable for it to be included in the Bill and I hope that the Minister will agree with it in principle on Report, even though he may not like the wording.