Welfare Reform Bill

I am sure that there will be a strong take-up for that. I do not want to labour this point, but the DWP has a strong record of investing in independent research, which is published academic research undertaken by a number of social research units around the country. There is also a huge amount of administrative data which the department collect and which are published quarterly and are available to social researchers, parliamentarians and all those concerned about the issues. The department is showing a strong commitment to learning by doing and by piloting. The Committee should welcome that. Although the amendments give us an important opportunity to have this discussion, they would not achieve what they are intended to and I hope that the noble Baroness will consider withdrawing her amendment.