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Welfare Reform Bill

We would acknowledge that reducing the amount of money that must be paid up front by the applicant is a step in the right direction, but I am still not clear about the rationale behind the non-resident carer being more likely to pay up because the applicant must pay a charge. I am concerned about conceding the principle of paying up front, because what will stop the Government coming back in a year's time and hiking up the £20 fee to £100 or £150? Will the Minister explain how the uprating of that amount will be carried out?