Welfare Reform Bill

moved Amendment No. 47: 47: Clause 9, page 7, line 40, at end insert— ““( ) for a person who is being treated under the Mental Health Act 1983 (c. 20) to be considered as having limited capability for work-related activity.”” The noble Baroness said: The purpose of this amendment is to ensure that people receiving treatment in a hospital or in the community under the Mental Health Act 1983 could not be regarded as being able to engage in work-related activity and would not have to face a work-focused interview—that is, they would be in the support group. The group Rethink believes that this amendment is particularly important, given the current low level of understanding of mental health issues among DWP staff. It says that someone who is so ill that they are being treated under the Act is unlikely to benefit from the regime of sanctions which would apply to them if they were included in the work-related activity group. I hope that the Minister will be able to accept the amendment or one very like it. I beg to move.