Welfare Reform Bill

As the noble Baroness, Lady Turner said, we had a substantial debate on this in the last sitting of the Grand Committee, but it is no bad thing that she has moved her amendment. I am a huge fan of the Social Security Advisory Committee and very much admire its reports, which I draw on a lot when I speak. This is a good safeguard but I hope the Minister will tell us that we will get a report from the advisory committee anyway, under either the affirmative order or the negative procedure. It should be affirmative because he has promised us that it will be, as long as it is not brought in within six months of the passing of the Bill. The advisory committee does not look at any proposal of under six months, does it? I think that is right, but perhaps the Minister could confirm it. We very much need the advisory committee’s wise words; the noble Baroness is quite right.