Welfare Reform Bill

This is a very important issue in principle, although the amendment seeks to change an important part of it. The power is clearly within the text of the Bill. The question is whether the Government will take advantage of using that. There are moments when ideas become apt, and the Government should take the opportunity to expand in a sensible way—none of us is thinking of completely throwing open the doors and losing any kind of concept of therapeutic benefit. Still, there must be some idea within the department about what the cost would be of a fresh look, which, together with the sensible suggestion of the noble Baroness, Lady Hollis, could bring about some benefit. If it is introduced as part of this new cultural change—make no mistake, that is what the Bill is—it will be a missed opportunity. This issue, and this amendment, will come up later on in the Bill. I hope that in Committee the Minister can give us an idea of how much money is foregone in terms of the scheme at the moment, and of how much of the £360 million he is going to roll out in the Bill—a good trick if he can do it—in a sensible way that begins to measure up to the extent to which the pilots were successful, although special circumstances were included in those pilots, such as the way that permitted and therapeutic rules were interpreted. It will be for the benefit of the Committee if he makesit clear exactly what he thinks he can do in future when considering the concept, rather than the fine print, of this important amendment moved by my noble friend. There are issues behind that which deserve fuller consideration in the further stages of the Bill.