I am appalled by what I hear. Many of the people who are in this situation have been on benefits or are dyslexic. Some cannot read and write, many cannot speak English, and many—like me—simply do not understand a lot of the details of these arrangements. The Minister talks of...

I am appalled by what I hear. Many of the people who are in this situation have been on benefits or are dyslexic. Some cannot read and write, many cannot speak English, and many—like me—simply do not understand a lot of the details of these arrangements. The Minister talks of...

Will the Minister clarify the point about the external providers? I have two questions. First, who carries the debts—the external provider or the Government? Secondly, what is the position of credit unions? Are they external providers? They have a very good record, I gather. Would it not make sense simply...

Will the Minister clarify the point about the external providers? I have two questions. First, who carries the debts—the external provider or the Government? Secondly, what is the position of credit unions? Are they external providers? They have a very good record, I gather. Would it not make sense simply...

The comment of the noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham, partly solves my problem. I was going to say simply that it seems perfectly idiotic—if the objective of prison is, in part at least, rehabilitation—that the inmates, when they are about to come out, should not be properly prepared to live in...

The comment of the noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham, partly solves my problem. I was going to say simply that it seems perfectly idiotic—if the objective of prison is, in part at least, rehabilitation—that the inmates, when they are about to come out, should not be properly prepared to live in...

Could the noble Baroness give an assurance that these documents will be written in plain English?

Could the noble Baroness give an assurance that these documents will be written in plain English?

I, too, support this amendment, which perhaps is one of the most important. Jobcentres would need to be successful in convincing their clients that they are both friends and advisers, but at the same time would have the power of conditionality to discipline them. Only if the advisers can achieve...

I, too, support this amendment, which perhaps is one of the most important. Jobcentres would need to be successful in convincing their clients that they are both friends and advisers, but at the same time would have the power of conditionality to discipline them. Only if the advisers can achieve...

I, too, support the amendment. It seems to me that it has enormous advantages. First, if it were suitably drafted, and the claimants’ charter were sufficiently well drafted, it could help to avoid the dangers that might confront not very clever claimants or claimants with not very good English. Such...

I, too, support the amendment. It seems to me that it has enormous advantages. First, if it were suitably drafted, and the claimants’ charter were sufficiently well drafted, it could help to avoid the dangers that might confront not very clever claimants or claimants with not very good English. Such...

I strongly support the amendment, particularly because it raises a fundamental principle: do we or do we not believe that parents are responsible for procuring or providing the education for their child? I also support it because it is a specific example of the general principle enshrined in the amendment...

I strongly support the amendment, particularly because it raises a fundamental principle: do we or do we not believe that parents are responsible for procuring or providing the education for their child? I also support it because it is a specific example of the general principle enshrined in the amendment...

Does the noble Lord believe that educating children at home is not work?

Does the noble Lord believe that educating children at home is not work?

On extended schools, the local authorities are required to provide them, and those services refer to various things, including childcare, but do not refer to any activities for older children between 3.15 pm when they leave school and 6.30 pm, which is the end of the extended school period.

On extended schools, the local authorities are required to provide them, and those services refer to various things, including childcare, but do not refer to any activities for older children between 3.15 pm when they leave school and 6.30 pm, which is the end of the extended school period.

The noble Baroness raises an important point. We have so far talked about childcare largely as it relates to the under-sevens and the early years, which we must all recognise is a crucial period in the child’s life. But we must surely ask what we mean by "childcare". It is...

The noble Baroness raises an important point. We have so far talked about childcare largely as it relates to the under-sevens and the early years, which we must all recognise is a crucial period in the child’s life. But we must surely ask what we mean by "childcare". It is...

Is a jobseeker entitled to take along a friend or adviser to a meeting at a job centre?

Is a jobseeker entitled to take along a friend or adviser to a meeting at a job centre?

Having listened to the Minister’s exposition of the position, I was only going to say that of course we all understand entirely what he said—but it might not necessarily be wholly comprehensible to the ordinary jobseeker. That seems very bad PR. If our advisers are trying to be jobseekers’ friends,...

Having listened to the Minister’s exposition of the position, I was only going to say that of course we all understand entirely what he said—but it might not necessarily be wholly comprehensible to the ordinary jobseeker. That seems very bad PR. If our advisers are trying to be jobseekers’ friends,...

Hear, hear.

Hear, hear.

I strongly support the amendment, not unnaturally in the context of what we discussed last Thursday; namely, the need for advisers to understand about the family dynamics of the person who is being interviewed. I also support it in the context of everything that has been said around the Committee....

I strongly support the amendment, not unnaturally in the context of what we discussed last Thursday; namely, the need for advisers to understand about the family dynamics of the person who is being interviewed. I also support it in the context of everything that has been said around the Committee....

I can envision an adviser—

I can envision an adviser—

I am sorry to interrupt the noble Lord, but this is an important point. What if the person cannot read? A significant number of children leave school functionally illiterate, and we have immigrants and the wives of immigrants who do not speak English at all, and indeed many who cannot...

I am sorry to interrupt the noble Lord, but this is an important point. What if the person cannot read? A significant number of children leave school functionally illiterate, and we have immigrants and the wives of immigrants who do not speak English at all, and indeed many who cannot...

It is the initial contact which is troubling me: the first contact when the jobcentre tries to make contact.

It is the initial contact which is troubling me: the first contact when the jobcentre tries to make contact.

I am talking about the initial approach when the letter arrives. People look at the thing and have to be given time at least to go to the citizens’ advice bureau to find out what it is about.

I am talking about the initial approach when the letter arrives. People look at the thing and have to be given time at least to go to the citizens’ advice bureau to find out what it is about.

I support the speech that the noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood, has just made. The Bill seeks to influence the social norms of our society in relation to work, and particularly to influence the social norms of certain groups in our society who may have got out of the habit of...

I support the speech that the noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood, has just made. The Bill seeks to influence the social norms of our society in relation to work, and particularly to influence the social norms of certain groups in our society who may have got out of the habit of...

The provisions of this amendment fell within my Amendments 22A to 22D. This is a particular case in point. The issue is whether it is wise to enumerate each case or to have a genetic categorisation in the Bill which includes all. The trouble with specifying one case is that...

The provisions of this amendment fell within my Amendments 22A to 22D. This is a particular case in point. The issue is whether it is wise to enumerate each case or to have a genetic categorisation in the Bill which includes all. The trouble with specifying one case is that...