I am grateful to the noble Baroness. I was thinking that a member of staff from a jobcentre could, for example, read the local paper. The information is available, but not necessarily to the client at the time when he wants it. The noble Baroness has made a valuable suggestion.

I am grateful to the noble Baroness. I was thinking that a member of staff from a jobcentre could, for example, read the local paper. The information is available, but not necessarily to the client at the time when he wants it. The noble Baroness has made a valuable suggestion.

The phrase "buckets of salt" comes to mind. With that, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 24 withdrawn.

The phrase "buckets of salt" comes to mind. With that, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 24 withdrawn.

Unlike with local housing allowance, there has been a fairly prompt evaluation of this pilot. I note that the Minister said that it did not appear to make much difference and, in any case, that it was not cost-effective. That is a very good reason for not pursuing it. We...

Unlike with local housing allowance, there has been a fairly prompt evaluation of this pilot. I note that the Minister said that it did not appear to make much difference and, in any case, that it was not cost-effective. That is a very good reason for not pursuing it. We...

Amendment 26 26: Clause 1, page 4, line 16, at end insert— "( ) No provisions in this section shall come into effect unless the Secretary of State is satisfied with the readiness of job centres to manage "work for your benefit" schemes."

Amendment 26 26: Clause 1, page 4, line 16, at end insert— "( ) No provisions in this section shall come into effect unless the Secretary of State is satisfied with the readiness of job centres to manage "work for your benefit" schemes."

What I think the noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood—I am putting words into his mouth now—and I would require is a timetable, not least a timetable between the decision to end the pilots and the finish of the independent evaluation, showing how long it took. As the noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood,...

What I think the noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood—I am putting words into his mouth now—and I would require is a timetable, not least a timetable between the decision to end the pilots and the finish of the independent evaluation, showing how long it took. As the noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood,...

The noble Lord is quite right; my terminology was wrong. Clause 1 is indeed about welfare to work, which, as we all know, involves contractors and, as I think we all know, subcontractors. Someone is going to have to monitor all this. As the contractors in the pilots will be...

The noble Lord is quite right; my terminology was wrong. Clause 1 is indeed about welfare to work, which, as we all know, involves contractors and, as I think we all know, subcontractors. Someone is going to have to monitor all this. As the contractors in the pilots will be...

Rather like the Government never apologising for either inflation or, as we have now, deflation, I do not apologise for conflation. The whole point of what I was trying to say, and I was very ably backed by virtually all noble Lords—not quite all since the noble Baroness, Lady Hollis,...

Rather like the Government never apologising for either inflation or, as we have now, deflation, I do not apologise for conflation. The whole point of what I was trying to say, and I was very ably backed by virtually all noble Lords—not quite all since the noble Baroness, Lady Hollis,...

We have had two and a half days on Clause 1 and there are still questions to be asked, as both the noble Baroness, Lady Afshar, and the noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood, have pointed out. I have said I do not know how many times during those two and a...

We have had two and a half days on Clause 1 and there are still questions to be asked, as both the noble Baroness, Lady Afshar, and the noble Lord, Lord Kirkwood, have pointed out. I have said I do not know how many times during those two and a...

Of course, the centre of the DWP is not dysfunctional, which I accused the individual jobcentres of being. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 26 withdrawn.

Of course, the centre of the DWP is not dysfunctional, which I accused the individual jobcentres of being. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 26 withdrawn.

Cap that. I support the rationale behind the noble Baroness’s amendments; indeed, as the Committee will note, I have added my name to Amendment 42. They would ensure that the participant was given a fair and reasonable chance to prove himself to have good cause for failing to uphold his...

Cap that. I support the rationale behind the noble Baroness’s amendments; indeed, as the Committee will note, I have added my name to Amendment 42. They would ensure that the participant was given a fair and reasonable chance to prove himself to have good cause for failing to uphold his...

Does what the Minister has just said mean that there will be no interview of any sort before the child is three? That is what I am really trying to get at.

Does what the Minister has just said mean that there will be no interview of any sort before the child is three? That is what I am really trying to get at.

No; it has nothing to do with conditionality. All that I am interested in is the interview process.

No; it has nothing to do with conditionality. All that I am interested in is the interview process.

I was asking whether what he has said means that there will be no interview for single parents under this clause before the child is three years old. It is a fairly simple question.

I was asking whether what he has said means that there will be no interview for single parents under this clause before the child is three years old. It is a fairly simple question.

I hope that we can complete this in seven and a half minutes, but we shall see. Judging by our rate of progress so far, perhaps I am being optimistic, but I hope not. Amendment 43 seeks to remove the words "or remain in" from the list of definitions in...

I hope that we can complete this in seven and a half minutes, but we shall see. Judging by our rate of progress so far, perhaps I am being optimistic, but I hope not. Amendment 43 seeks to remove the words "or remain in" from the list of definitions in...

Before we do that, I understood the Minister to say that the two pilots that we are talking about in respect of Clause 1 would start in October 2010 and that the final results would be in 2012. Is that correct?

Before we do that, I understood the Minister to say that the two pilots that we are talking about in respect of Clause 1 would start in October 2010 and that the final results would be in 2012. Is that correct?

Amendment 43 43: Clause 2, page 5, line 48, leave out "or remain in"

Amendment 43 43: Clause 2, page 5, line 48, leave out "or remain in"

I am grateful for that information. I had occasion, I think on Thursday, to comment when I saw two Clerks sitting at the table here. There is a training technique, which is operated very often by employers, that is known as "sitting next to Nellie"—in other words, training by example....

I am grateful for that information. I had occasion, I think on Thursday, to comment when I saw two Clerks sitting at the table here. There is a training technique, which is operated very often by employers, that is known as "sitting next to Nellie"—in other words, training by example....

I have tabled several amendments in this group and it might be appropriate if I speak to them now. The noble Baroness has tabled amendments that would change the emphasis of the scheme from one of a duty to fulfil obligations to one of entitlement. This is an area where...

I have tabled several amendments in this group and it might be appropriate if I speak to them now. The noble Baroness has tabled amendments that would change the emphasis of the scheme from one of a duty to fulfil obligations to one of entitlement. This is an area where...

I am afraid I am going to be the grit in the ointment on the amendment, which will dismay many Members of the Committee. During our extensive debates on Clause 1 we have, from time to time, strayed into Clause 2, for which I was in part, but by no...

I am afraid I am going to be the grit in the ointment on the amendment, which will dismay many Members of the Committee. During our extensive debates on Clause 1 we have, from time to time, strayed into Clause 2, for which I was in part, but by no...

That would probably be helpful. None the less, there is a movement from the jobcentre to the contractor. Someone will have to organise that movement for the individual claimant, and I cannot see anyone, other than the job adviser, who is likely to do that. Therefore, as I said, I...

That would probably be helpful. None the less, there is a movement from the jobcentre to the contractor. Someone will have to organise that movement for the individual claimant, and I cannot see anyone, other than the job adviser, who is likely to do that. Therefore, as I said, I...