Welfare Reform Bill

I hope that I have shown during the course of the Committee that I am a fairly tolerant individual, but the Minister’s response horrified me. The Bill started in another place on4 July last year. We have now had the results and critique of the first pilots, but the Government have still not come to a conclusion. We have also had the comments of the Joint Committee on Human Rights on this matter, which states: "““We remain concerned that, generally, contract compliance will not provide effective protection for the Convention rights of individuals where the functions of public authorities are assumed on a day-to-day basis by a private commercial or voluntary organisation. We draw this matter to the attention of both Houses””." That is exactly why the noble Lord and I tabled this series of amendments. I am now much more concerned than I was when I introduced the amendment. It is inevitable that, since different contractors will exist in different parts of the country, a postcode lottery will develop, with different providers applying the regulations in different ways. We are concerned also by the degree of accountability that would be available in such integral decisions were they to be contracted out, although the Minister tried hard to satisfy us on that point. Those decisions which will have a direct impact on the level of benefit that an individual receives should be maintained within the decision-making structures of the DWP and the delegated powers of the Secretary of State, as I said when I introduced the amendment. I am far from satisfied on all this. I will certainly come back at the next stage of the Bill.