Welfare Reform Bill

Amendment 12 12: Clause 1, page 2, line 24, at end insert— "( ) Without prejudice to any regulations made under subsection (5)(e) or (f) above, a person is to be regarded as having good cause for any act or omission for those purposes if, and to the extent that, the act or omission is attributable to any of the following circumstances— (a) the claimant in question was suffering from some disease or bodily or mental disablement on account of which— (i) he was not able to participate in the scheme or work related activity in question; (ii) his attendance would have put at risk his health; or (iii) his attendance would have put at risk the health of other persons; (b) the claimant’s failure to participate in the scheme or activity resulted from a religious or conscientious objection sincerely held; (c) the time it took, or would normally have taken, for the claimant to travel from his home to the scheme or activity and back to his home by a route and means appropriate to his circumstances and to the scheme or activity exceeded, or would have exceeded, one hour in either direction or, where no appropriate scheme or activity is available within one hour of his home, such greater time as is necessary in the particular circumstances of the nearest appropriate scheme or activity; (d) the claimant had caring responsibilities and— (i) no close relative of the person he cared for and no other member of that person’s household was available to care for him; and (ii) in the circumstances of the case it was not practical for the claimant to make other arrangements for the care of that person; (e) the claimant was attending court as a party to any proceedings, or as a witness or as a juror; (f) the claimant was arranging or attending the funeral of a close relative or close friend; (g) the claimant was engaged in— (i) the manning or launching of a lifeboat; or (ii) the performance of duty as a part-time member of a fire brigade; (h) the claimant was required to deal with some domestic emergency; or (i) the claimant was engaged during an emergency in duties for the benefit of others."