I have already made that suggestion to the RNIB. The maze was a fantastic way of describing, to those of us who have our sight, the difficulties that people who have no usable sight face. Over the past two and a half years, the RNIB has argued its case with...

I have already made that suggestion to the RNIB. The maze was a fantastic way of describing, to those of us who have our sight, the difficulties that people who have no usable sight face. Over the past two and a half years, the RNIB has argued its case with...

The Liberal party is always in a maze, but there we are.

The Liberal party is always in a maze, but there we are.

I, too, would like to thank my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, North-West (John Robertson) for tabling new clauses 4 and 10. I pay tribute to the hon. Member for Bournemouth, West (Sir John Butterfill). I remember him inviting me to the first lobby in Westminster Hall and his...

I, too, would like to thank my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, North-West (John Robertson) for tabling new clauses 4 and 10. I pay tribute to the hon. Member for Bournemouth, West (Sir John Butterfill). I remember him inviting me to the first lobby in Westminster Hall and his...

Will the hon. Gentleman cut to the chase and tell us whether he and the Opposition will support the new clause in the Lobby tonight if it comes to a vote?

Will the hon. Gentleman cut to the chase and tell us whether he and the Opposition will support the new clause in the Lobby tonight if it comes to a vote?

I look forward to reviewing the legislation that my hon. Friend piloted through the Assembly, which relates to the reassurance that I need from my Front Benchers today. On the proposals on drugs users, I understand that the SNP Government are refusing to co-operate with the approach highlighted in the...

I look forward to reviewing the legislation that my hon. Friend piloted through the Assembly, which relates to the reassurance that I need from my Front Benchers today. On the proposals on drugs users, I understand that the SNP Government are refusing to co-operate with the approach highlighted in the...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

I should explain what a Clyde supporter is, in case anybody thinks that it has something to do with the river. Clyde is a football club in the town where I live. I make that clear for the record in case hon. Members think that the hon. Member for Glasgow,...

I should explain what a Clyde supporter is, in case anybody thinks that it has something to do with the river. Clyde is a football club in the town where I live. I make that clear for the record in case hon. Members think that the hon. Member for Glasgow,...

Does the hon. Gentleman accept, though, that in order for lone parents to have the potential to go back to work, to take up a career or to take up a job, it is important to offer them support to enable them to keep in contact with the job market...

Does the hon. Gentleman accept, though, that in order for lone parents to have the potential to go back to work, to take up a career or to take up a job, it is important to offer them support to enable them to keep in contact with the job market...

I am reluctant to intervene on the hon. Gentleman, given his expertise on the subject, but does he not agree, with his undoubted knowledge of the issues, that it would have been faintly ludicrous to reform something as complex as the British benefit system in one fell swoop?

I am reluctant to intervene on the hon. Gentleman, given his expertise on the subject, but does he not agree, with his undoubted knowledge of the issues, that it would have been faintly ludicrous to reform something as complex as the British benefit system in one fell swoop?

It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Northavon (Steve Webb). His speech took me back to the philosophy lectures that I used to attend on John Stuart Mill. Today, he has given us a lesson that I can only describe as John Stuart Mill-plus. I welcome the...

It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Northavon (Steve Webb). His speech took me back to the philosophy lectures that I used to attend on John Stuart Mill. Today, he has given us a lesson that I can only describe as John Stuart Mill-plus. I welcome the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department's estimate is of the proportion of benefits claimants who live (a) within 10 miles, (b) within 20 miles, (c) within 30 miles and (d) further than 30 miles from a Job Centre Plus office; and if he...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his Department's estimate is of the proportion of benefits claimants who live (a) within 10 miles, (b) within 20 miles, (c) within 30 miles and (d) further than 30 miles from a Job Centre Plus office; and if he...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobcentres he has visited since taking up his post.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobcentres he has visited since taking up his post.

(2) what mechanisms his Department has in place to inform callers of contact alternatives when a Jobcentre's telephony service fails to connect to an operator.

(2) what mechanisms his Department has in place to inform callers of contact alternatives when a Jobcentre's telephony service fails to connect to an operator.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many incidents of Jobcentre 0845 telephone system failure have occurred in the last 12 months;

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many incidents of Jobcentre 0845 telephone system failure have occurred in the last 12 months;

(2) what meetings his officials held with representatives of Somerset county council on Chard Jobcentre before its closure was announced; and if he will make a statement.

(2) what meetings his officials held with representatives of Somerset county council on Chard Jobcentre before its closure was announced; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what discussions were held with Somerset county council before the announcement of the closure of Chard Jobcentre; if he will publish all the responses to the consultation on the future of Chard Jobcentre; and if he will make a...

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what discussions were held with Somerset county council before the announcement of the closure of Chard Jobcentre; if he will publish all the responses to the consultation on the future of Chard Jobcentre; and if he will make a...

(4) what his policy is on charging members of the public who telephone Jobcentre Plus or benefits offices who are connected to an automated answering device but not subsequently connected to a member of staff; and if he will make a statement.

(4) what his policy is on charging members of the public who telephone Jobcentre Plus or benefits offices who are connected to an automated answering device but not subsequently connected to a member of staff; and if he will make a statement.

(3) what the (a) average number of calls before connection and (b) average time taken to get connected, not including connections to automated responses, was for people telephoning benefits offices using 0845 numbers in the last 12 months;

(3) what the (a) average number of calls before connection and (b) average time taken to get connected, not including connections to automated responses, was for people telephoning benefits offices using 0845 numbers in the last 12 months;

(2) what the average cost was of telephone calls made to benefits offices on 0845 numbers in the last 12 months; what the total cost was of such calls; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what the average cost was of telephone calls made to benefits offices on 0845 numbers in the last 12 months; what the total cost was of such calls; and if he will make a statement;

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many benefits offices provide 0845 numbers for the use of people seeking to contact them; and if he will make a statement;

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many benefits offices provide 0845 numbers for the use of people seeking to contact them; and if he will make a statement;