Welfare Reform Bill

I thank the noble Lord, Lord Skelmersdale, for the amendments, whose effect would be to make the disqualification of liable persons from holding or obtaining a travel authorisation, as set out in Clause 42, subject to a two-year pilot. Clause 43 currently makes provision for a two-year pilot only in respect of disqualification from driving, as the noble Lord outlined. I shall explain why it is unnecessary to pilot disqualification from holding travel authorisation. Clause 43 is intended to enable the DWP, the commission, the Department for Transport and the police to gauge whether there is any greater risk associated with an administrative as opposed to court-based power to disqualify a person from driving, as well as evaluating its effectiveness in gaining compliance with child-maintenance responsibilities. Requiring a two-year pilot and the publication of a report into its effects, as well as further debates in both Houses of Parliament should we decide to proceed after the pilot, will ensure that the driving-licence power will become permanent only if it is shown to be effective. The provisions will also enable us, if necessary, to identify and address any issues evidenced by the pilot. Unlike with passports, we did not attempt to introduce administrative driving-licence powers in the 2008 Act due to quite legitimate concerns about the potential consequences for third parties. A person who drives while disqualified not only commits a serious motoring offence but also invalidates his or her insurance. By contrast, we do not believe that it is necessary to have a piloting power with regards to passports. While the withdrawal of a person’s passport or ID card suitable for travel is a severe measure, it does not carry any risk of harm to innocent third parties. While I understand the concerns raised by the Select Committee on the Constitution, I do not see a compelling case to justify piloting the travel authorisation power. That is because the concerns raised by the committee, primarily about the constitutional appropriateness of the measure, could not be addressed simply by a pilot in any event. I hope that that has given the noble Lord the assurance that he was seeking.