Welfare Reform Bill

I shall make three quick points in conclusion. First, the well-being of tenants is very much what has motivated the long list of charities that are primarily concerned with the welfare of tenants. They do not believe that this is helpful or useful or will get people into work and do those good things. Those charities include the representative of the tenants—the Tenants and Residents Organisation of England—which does not agree that this is for the good of residents. This alliance of organisations, with the Council of Mortgage Lenders alongside Shelter and Crisis, is all as one, so I pray in aid a very large body of expertise, a lot of it very specifically with the views of tenants foremost in their minds. Secondly, although it will be possible for those who are classified as vulnerable to have their rents paid direct to the landlord, bearing in mind future financial pressures on tenants and the difficulties of organising your finances with the complexities of things such as direct debits, the estimate that it will apply to 10 per cent of all of those in social housing sounds remarkably low. Finally, I am sure that everyone would welcome pilots and practical ways of looking at the issue on the ground to discover how things might be done better. Let us not prejudge the outcome that the Minister and his colleagues are right on this one and that this rather large body of opinion on the other side is wrong. Let us allow those pilot schemes to explore the issues. It is not in the Bill so the opportunity exists for Ministers to withdraw this measure which could prove calamitous for a lot of people. I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment 49 withdrawn. Clause 12 : Other particular needs or circumstances Clause 12 : Other particular needs or circumstances Amendment 49A not moved. Amendment 50 not moved.