The right hon. Lady has made her point, but may I draw her attention to Lords amendment 2? It says:""Nothing in this section shall cause any financial sanction to be imposed in the case of a single parent with a child under five years of age."" That amendment was moved...

The right hon. Lady has made her point, but may I draw her attention to Lords amendment 2? It says:""Nothing in this section shall cause any financial sanction to be imposed in the case of a single parent with a child under five years of age."" That amendment was moved...

Yes, I shall certainly give way. The right hon. Lady has experience of these matters.

Yes, I shall certainly give way. The right hon. Lady has experience of these matters.

I think I was a little kinder than the hon. Lady in what I said about the value of affirmative resolutions. As a parliamentarian, I always welcome the affirmative procedure and argue in favour of it when considering Bills, but one needs a tinge of realism when discussing the subject....

I think I was a little kinder than the hon. Lady in what I said about the value of affirmative resolutions. As a parliamentarian, I always welcome the affirmative procedure and argue in favour of it when considering Bills, but one needs a tinge of realism when discussing the subject....

I think that we have been consistent about this matter. The Minister seems somewhat uncomfortable talking about sanctions affecting very young children, but I do want to ask him a question. There is not much between us otherwise, but why is it so important to have financial sanctions that can...

I think that we have been consistent about this matter. The Minister seems somewhat uncomfortable talking about sanctions affecting very young children, but I do want to ask him a question. There is not much between us otherwise, but why is it so important to have financial sanctions that can...

May I begin by welcoming the Minister to the proceedings on this Bill? He has obviously spent some time studying the provisions, and he will know from previous debates that we on this side of the House have expressed broad support for the Bill and its objectives. We support many...

May I begin by welcoming the Minister to the proceedings on this Bill? He has obviously spent some time studying the provisions, and he will know from previous debates that we on this side of the House have expressed broad support for the Bill and its objectives. We support many...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

I agree with the hon. Lady. We also think that it is good for lone parents to work, and the evidence is that work is beneficial to them and to their children. However, there is a balance to be struck between the care of young children and the work of...

I agree with the hon. Lady. We also think that it is good for lone parents to work, and the evidence is that work is beneficial to them and to their children. However, there is a balance to be struck between the care of young children and the work of...

The hon. Gentleman is making a considered and well informed speech, but he refers to that idea as a canard. The canard actually comes from the Government's own consultation paper, the back of which refers to charging interest on social fund recipients. It sets out the impact of that and...

The hon. Gentleman is making a considered and well informed speech, but he refers to that idea as a canard. The canard actually comes from the Government's own consultation paper, the back of which refers to charging interest on social fund recipients. It sets out the impact of that and...

This has been a very good debate, with some powerful personal accounts, including the last two contributions. I do not have time to mention all the speeches made, but I commend my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, West (Sir John Butterfill), who made a powerful speech on behalf of...

This has been a very good debate, with some powerful personal accounts, including the last two contributions. I do not have time to mention all the speeches made, but I commend my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, West (Sir John Butterfill), who made a powerful speech on behalf of...

Welfare Reform Bill. Second reading debate. Agreed to on question. Programme motion on proceedings in Committee, on Report, Third reading and any other proceedings agreed to on question. Queen's recommendation signified. Money resolution agreed to on question.

Welfare Reform Bill. Second reading debate. Agreed to on question. Programme motion on proceedings in Committee, on Report, Third reading and any other proceedings agreed to on question. Queen's recommendation signified. Money resolution agreed to on question.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of work-focused interviews in the Pathways to Work programme have been given by (a) private sector providers and (b) voluntary sector providers since the programme's inception.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of work-focused interviews in the Pathways to Work programme have been given by (a) private sector providers and (b) voluntary sector providers since the programme's inception.

The Minister says yes, but we shall find out in due course. We shall also debate the matter in Committee. My next question deals more generally with trust schools—or foundation schools, or double foundation schools, however they may be camouflaged by the Government. Will the Minister say how many brand...

The Minister says yes, but we shall find out in due course. We shall also debate the matter in Committee. My next question deals more generally with trust schools—or foundation schools, or double foundation schools, however they may be camouflaged by the Government. Will the Minister say how many brand...

I am delighted to follow the hon. Member for Knowsley South (Mr. O’Hara). On balance, I think that my right hon. and hon. Friends are doing the right thing in giving the Bill a Second Reading. It contains principles that Conservatives can support, although the Government have clearly gone to...

I am delighted to follow the hon. Member for Knowsley South (Mr. O’Hara). On balance, I think that my right hon. and hon. Friends are doing the right thing in giving the Bill a Second Reading. It contains principles that Conservatives can support, although the Government have clearly gone to...

We can debate that in the context of the Bill’s provisions on curricula and entitlements. However, one piece of worrying evidence is the drift from the study of subjects that some would say demand a high degree of academic rigour, such as science and modern foreign languages, and a move...

We can debate that in the context of the Bill’s provisions on curricula and entitlements. However, one piece of worrying evidence is the drift from the study of subjects that some would say demand a high degree of academic rigour, such as science and modern foreign languages, and a move...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people attending work-focused interviews at Jobcentre Plus offices since 22nd October 2001, have (a) moved from incapacity benefit into employment, (b) transferred to other social security benefits and (c) remained in receipt of incapacity benefit at (i) the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people attending work-focused interviews at Jobcentre Plus offices since 22nd October 2001, have (a) moved from incapacity benefit into employment, (b) transferred to other social security benefits and (c) remained in receipt of incapacity benefit at (i) the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many lone parents have had income support reduced as a sanction under the New Deal for Lone Parents; and what provision is made for sanctions to be applied in the case of lone parents who attend interviews but decline...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many lone parents have had income support reduced as a sanction under the New Deal for Lone Parents; and what provision is made for sanctions to be applied in the case of lone parents who attend interviews but decline...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department's estimates are of the number of people who will (a) find work and (b) be moved from incapacity benefit to jobseeker's allowance as a result of the Jobcentre Plus interviews regulations; what estimate his Department has made...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department's estimates are of the number of people who will (a) find work and (b) be moved from incapacity benefit to jobseeker's allowance as a result of the Jobcentre Plus interviews regulations; what estimate his Department has made...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to change the time limit for further representations following interviews in the case of unaccompanied child asylum applicants.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to change the time limit for further representations following interviews in the case of unaccompanied child asylum applicants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd February, Official Report, 324 c661-2W, for what reasons his Answer did not indicate how many persons aged 18 to 24 years (a) have been invited to join the New Deal and failed to keep...

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his Answer of 3rd February, Official Report, 324 c661-2W, for what reasons his Answer did not indicate how many persons aged 18 to 24 years (a) have been invited to join the New Deal and failed to keep...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how he plans to ascertain whether or not the considerations to be taken into account in dealing with asylum applications made between 1st July 1993 and 31st December 1995 apply to the cases of individual asylum seekers; and if he...

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how he plans to ascertain whether or not the considerations to be taken into account in dealing with asylum applications made between 1st July 1993 and 31st December 1995 apply to the cases of individual asylum seekers; and if he...