Welfare Reform Bill

I note the point that the noble Baroness has pressed on a number of occasions. We may in part be talking about semantics. We would all recognise the importance of looking after families and bringing up children; there is nothing inconsistent with what is provided for in the Bill with recognising and supporting that aim. However, I take the point that issues around coping with family life and children are a key barrier that may have a number of facets. I hang on to the point that, so far as directions are moving closer to the labour market, doing it one at a time is the right way to go. Otherwise, you could create all sorts of confusion, particularly if you were trying to unpick all those issues that looking after families and caring for children actually entailed. That is why I think that this is the right approach. Indeed, the action plan should seek to prioritise the barriers. Directions are not the norm; they are to be used only when clients no longer follow their action plan, so we do not see them as a routine part of the process. If people do not follow their action plans, we take on the key item from the action plan and direct compliance to try to kickstart compliance generally. We do not see it as a routine and normal part of the process, but it is an important facility.