Welfare Reform and Work Bill 2015-16

UKParliament

Hi MSEs,

On Monday 20 July, at approximately 4.40pm, MPs will be debating the Welfare Reform and Work Bill 2015-16.

You can watch live or via catch-up on Parliament TV.

What is this Bill about?
This is a Bill to make provision about reports on progress towards full employment and the apprenticeships target; to make provision about reports on the effect of certain support for troubled families; to make provision about social mobility; to make provision about the benefit cap; to make provision about social security and tax credits; to make provision for loans for mortgage interest; and to make provision about social housing rents.

Read the Bill

Amendments to the Bill
A number of MPs have suggested amendments to the Welfare Reform and Work Bill 2015-16. These amendments range from declining to give the bill a second reading and thus proceeding further to adjustments in the wording of the Bill.

Read the amendments are published in the Order of Business

Further Information
The House of Commons Library have produced a paper that is politically impartial and contains factual information about the Bill.

Welfare Reform and Work Bill 2015-16

rogerblack

As I understand the process, there are at this stage no significant amendments - just ones resolving not to pass the bill.
Even a negative vote won't kill the bill.

Barring a rebellion on the conservative side, as well as complete unanymity on the other to pass one of the 'this bill should not pass' amendments - this is passing second reading - and then going into committee stage.

http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/laws/passage-bill/commons/coms-commons-comittee-stage/

Weary_soul

An appalling bill. The government should be ashamed of themselves.

But then I suppose what can you expect from a bunch of self serving sociopaths.

mejaa

A shocking bill mainly penalising those that work .
So much for David Cameron's statement 'it pays to work' When really what he meant was 'work to pay for others'
It's an absolute disgrace all of the tax credit cuts, lower threshold, pay to stay etc, there's no incentive for anyone to go and seek work now.
The goverment are well and truly biting the hand that feeds them!!!

Robbie64

The Bill completely undermines what was meant to be one of the selling points of Universal Credit, that it pays to work. This is especially true for single people with no children or disabilities. The work allowance under UC has been completely removed for this group and added to the increase in the taper it means that for this group there is little incentive other than reducing the threat of benefit sanctions for anyone in this group to take on paid work. From the first pound earned UC will be affected. It's all stick and no carrot.

I wonder what representatives from Jobcentre Plus will be doing over the next year until the abolition of the work allowance for this group? At the moment, in areas where UC is about to launch, JC+ have been promoting / selling the new benefit by presentations and leaflets which show how single people (the first group usually to claim UC) will be better off under UC and how earnings (and therefore overall income) can go up by a decent amount without UC being drastically cut. It looks like the JC+ staff will have to re-write their Powerpoint presentation notes.

bloolagoon

Robbie64 wrote: »

The Bill completely undermines what was meant to be one of the selling points of Universal Credit, that it pays to work. This is especially true for single people with no children or disabilities. The work allowance under UC has been completely removed for this group and added to the increase in the taper it means that for this group there is little incentive other than reducing the threat of benefit sanctions for anyone in this group to take on paid work. From the first pound earned UC will be affected. It's all stick and no carrot.

I wonder what representatives from Jobcentre Plus will be doing over the next year until the abolition of the work allowance for this group? At the moment, in areas where UC is about to launch, JC+ have been promoting / selling the new benefit by presentations and leaflets which show how single people (the first group usually to claim UC) will be better off under UC and how earnings (and therefore overall income) can go up by a decent amount without UC being drastically cut. It looks like the JC+ staff will have to re-write their Powerpoint presentation notes.

It's very sad when you need to promote work to fit people with no dependents. I do understand that you should always be better off working but find it sad that you need to almost sell the idea of work to some people

Robbie64

bloolagoon wrote: »

It's very sad when you need to promote work to fit people with no dependents. I do understand that you should always be better off working but find it sad that you need to almost sell the idea of work to some people

I agree. However for many people in low paid / low hours work who are unlikely to earn much beyond what they will be able to get in UC then there has to be some incentive built into the system to produce a "better off" outcome when working. UC was, in part, designed with this in mind. In a few seconds in his Budget speech, George Osborne has all but removed this policy objective and has undermined the whole basis of UC.

I doubt IDS would publicly acknowledge it but he's been left with a benefit that no longer serves part of the purpose for which it was created. And the changes will be kicking in from next April (if all goes as planned by the Government) just as UC for single people is beginning to fully bed in to most Jobcentres up and down the country.

UKParliament

Hi Everyone,

The Welfare Reform and Work Bill 2015-16 will be reported on today in the House of Commons and have its third reading. It is expected to start at approximately 12.45pm.

You will be able to watch live or catch-up later via Parliament TV.


This Bill was amended in the Committee of the whole House and in Public Bill Committees in the House of Commons. You can see the changes made to the Bill on the Parliament Bills pages.

Welfare Reform and Work Bill 2015-16