That the draft regulations and orders laid before the House on 19 and 30 January be approved. Relevant documents: 39th and 40th Reports from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments, considered in Grand Committee on 27 February. Motion agreed.

That the draft regulations and orders laid before the House on 19 and 30 January be approved. Relevant documents: 39th and 40th Reports from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments, considered in Grand Committee on 27 February. Motion agreed.

Draft Jobseeker's Allowance (Domestic Violence) (Amendment) Regulations 2012. Draft Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2012. Draft Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order 2012. Draft Pensions Act 2008 (Abolition of Protected Rights) (Consequential Amendments) (No. 2) (Amendment) Order 2012. Lords motion to approve. Agreed to on question (formal).

Draft Jobseeker's Allowance (Domestic Violence) (Amendment) Regulations 2012. Draft Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2012. Draft Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order 2012. Draft Pensions Act 2008 (Abolition of Protected Rights) (Consequential Amendments) (No. 2) (Amendment) Order 2012. Lords motion to approve. Agreed to on question (formal).

Draft Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2012. Lords debate on a motion to consider. Agreed to on question. Debated with draft Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order 2012, and draft Pensions Act 2008 (Abolition of Protected Rights) (Consequential Amendments) (No. 2) (Amendment) Order 2012. Grand Committee held in the Moses Room.

Draft Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2012. Lords debate on a motion to consider. Agreed to on question. Debated with draft Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order 2012, and draft Pensions Act 2008 (Abolition of Protected Rights) (Consequential Amendments) (No. 2) (Amendment) Order 2012. Grand Committee held in the Moses Room.

My Lords, I will focus on the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order, particularly its implications for people of working age. As someone who is always quick to criticise the Government when I think they are doing the wrong thing, it is only proper to acknowledge and applaud the Government when...

My Lords, I will focus on the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order, particularly its implications for people of working age. As someone who is always quick to criticise the Government when I think they are doing the wrong thing, it is only proper to acknowledge and applaud the Government when...

My Lords, I was talking about child benefit, which was an issue raised by the noble Baroness, Lady Lister. She referred to the relationship between child benefit and tax thresholds. As you move towards the universal credit system, that is the way you keep the incomes of the poorest in...

My Lords, I was talking about child benefit, which was an issue raised by the noble Baroness, Lady Lister. She referred to the relationship between child benefit and tax thresholds. As you move towards the universal credit system, that is the way you keep the incomes of the poorest in...

Perhaps I may deal first with the point made by the noble Baroness, Lady Lister, although I am sure that my noble friend Lord Sassoon will provide a much more sparkling answer. My answer is that, as we look forward into a world where the poorest are supported by universal...

Perhaps I may deal first with the point made by the noble Baroness, Lady Lister, although I am sure that my noble friend Lord Sassoon will provide a much more sparkling answer. My answer is that, as we look forward into a world where the poorest are supported by universal...

My Lords, it is a lot easier to spend £6.6 billion extra than to remove it. I accept that noble Lords are pleased that we are sticking to the CPI to September figure—the 5.2 per cent—even though it is a high figure. It is important for the Government to do...

My Lords, it is a lot easier to spend £6.6 billion extra than to remove it. I accept that noble Lords are pleased that we are sticking to the CPI to September figure—the 5.2 per cent—even though it is a high figure. It is important for the Government to do...

Perhaps I may intervene. I am sorry, but I did not know whether the Minister was about to wind up, so perhaps I could revert to a couple of the questions which are left outstanding. In relation to the savings credit and passported benefit, the issue is that if there...

Perhaps I may intervene. I am sorry, but I did not know whether the Minister was about to wind up, so perhaps I could revert to a couple of the questions which are left outstanding. In relation to the savings credit and passported benefit, the issue is that if there...

My Lords, I am happy to add that to my long list of things that I will be taking to the Deputy Prime Minister from time to time. I am pleased to make a short intervention in this debate. I, too, was massively relieved that the full uprating undertaking was...

My Lords, I am happy to add that to my long list of things that I will be taking to the Deputy Prime Minister from time to time. I am pleased to make a short intervention in this debate. I, too, was massively relieved that the full uprating undertaking was...

My Lords, I shall take up the point on which my noble friend concluded, and that is about the certainty which the Government have provided for those with pensions. The Government have done what they said they intended to do in terms of providing the triple lock, to which I...

My Lords, I shall take up the point on which my noble friend concluded, and that is about the certainty which the Government have provided for those with pensions. The Government have done what they said they intended to do in terms of providing the triple lock, to which I...

My Lords, at the start, we acknowledge that the Government have rejected the voices within their ranks that would have watered down even the full CPI increase for these upratings. The order before us deals with the most out-of-work benefits, but it of course does not deal with changes to...

My Lords, at the start, we acknowledge that the Government have rejected the voices within their ranks that would have watered down even the full CPI increase for these upratings. The order before us deals with the most out-of-work benefits, but it of course does not deal with changes to...

That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2012. Relevant document: 40th Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments. That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order...

That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2012. Relevant document: 40th Report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments. That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order...

My Lords, the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2012, the Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order 2012 and the Pensions Act 2008 (Abolition of Protected Rights) (Consequential Amendments) (No. 2) Order 2012 were laid before the House on 30 January 2012, and I am satisfied that they are compatible with the...

My Lords, the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2012, the Guaranteed Minimum Pensions Increase Order 2012 and the Pensions Act 2008 (Abolition of Protected Rights) (Consequential Amendments) (No. 2) Order 2012 were laid before the House on 30 January 2012, and I am satisfied that they are compatible with the...

To save the Minister getting up and down, I would appreciate a comment on the point that I made about child benefit. Perhaps it is more appropriate for the noble Lord, Lord Sassoon. What is the logic of putting so much emphasis on increasing personal tax allowance in real terms...

To save the Minister getting up and down, I would appreciate a comment on the point that I made about child benefit. Perhaps it is more appropriate for the noble Lord, Lord Sassoon. What is the logic of putting so much emphasis on increasing personal tax allowance in real terms...

Are they expected in February?

Are they expected in February?

Yes, so we are expecting them reasonably soon. I can say to the noble Lord—I cannot give anything away and I have only anecdotal feedback—that I am looking forward very much to these figures. I know that he will want, as he has in the past, to say that the...

Yes, so we are expecting them reasonably soon. I can say to the noble Lord—I cannot give anything away and I have only anecdotal feedback—that I am looking forward very much to these figures. I know that he will want, as he has in the past, to say that the...

I tried to avoid getting to my feet but there is an outstanding issue related to the Work Programme and the reports on that.

I tried to avoid getting to my feet but there is an outstanding issue related to the Work Programme and the reports on that.

My concentration has been completely broken as to that point.

My concentration has been completely broken as to that point.

Because there was no impact assessment with the orders and the issues around the Work Programme, can we have an update on its performance?

Because there was no impact assessment with the orders and the issues around the Work Programme, can we have an update on its performance?

I thank the noble Lord for reminding me. Because the Work Programme is a payment-by-results system, you see the results later than with those programmes paid for on a pro forma basis. I am not sure of the exact date but I think that we are looking to publish the...

I thank the noble Lord for reminding me. Because the Work Programme is a payment-by-results system, you see the results later than with those programmes paid for on a pro forma basis. I am not sure of the exact date but I think that we are looking to publish the...