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Welfare Reform Bill

It seems to me that there would be great value in including something in the Bill referring to the Government’s charter. The problem may be with new subsection (1), which states that regulations, ""shall make provision for a claimants’ charter to set up the rights and duties of claimants under the provisions of this Act"." Clearly, there would be merit in removing the words, ""under the provisions of this Act"," so that the charter would apply to claimants in general. The important point that I want to hear a response to is whether the noble Baroness has any objection to including the principle in the Bill—a commitment to regulations to set out a charter. That would be very helpful.