Welfare Reform Bill

I think that it would generally be the case that the Minister is responsible for the activities of the department and would have to account for Parliament for its activities, including those of the contractor. That would run naturally. To accept the amendment tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Skelmersdale, would raise unnecessary ambiguity about how customers will be treated and the safeguards by which they will be protected. I am conscious that this has been a somewhat lengthy response but it was to a fairly large group of amendments, with some technicalities embedded within them. I hope that it satisfies the noble Lord and other noble Lords who have spoken.