Welfare Reform Bill (Programme) (No. 2)

Of course. As the right hon. Member for East Ham will know, I have tabled several Government amendments to address the concerns that he and other Members raised in Committee. I will deal with those before I talk in detail about his amendments. Government amendments 14 to 21 will make certain regulation-making provisions for universal credit, employment and support allowance, jobseeker's allowance and pension credit subject to the affirmative resolution procedure when they are first used. I recognise the hon. Lady's point, and it is a point that was made well by the right hon. Member for East Ham in Committee. I do not think that it would be sensible to make the provisions subject to the affirmative procedure year in, year out, but it is right and proper that the House should be able to debate them fully when they are first introduced.