---

Social Security Regulations

My Lords, I want to intervene briefly as I was intrigued by the Motion. My mind went back to 2007, when it certainly seemed that tremendous progress had been made. I congratulate the Minister on the fact that users and carers have been involved to a far greater extent than anybody would have thought when the Government first entered office. However, yet again, we have found an inconsistency. I hope that this debate will take us a step closer to achieving our goal, although I am never certain that another inconsistency will not be discovered. We very much congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Thomas of Winchester, on the beautifully clear way in which she explained how the situation has developed. It seems totally mad that a Government who are so keen on volunteers, voluntary organisations and charities, and have done much to support them, should be responsible for introducing this differentiation, which is not in their favour any more than it is for users and carers. I very much hope that the Minister will be able to reassure us and move us close to parity—if not to complete parity—in all these areas.