Welfare Reform Bill

I thank my noble friends for raising additional issues, following on from our earlier debate. My noble friend Lady Hollis seems to have posed a fundamental question which, with respect, the Minister has not fully dealt with. The question was posed to be helpful to the Government, not to try to undermine what they are seeking to achieve. To the noble Lord, Lord Boswell, I say that no one is talking about being a ““softie”” in all this. We are upfront; we recognise that sanctions have a role to play in reinforcing conditionality. The issue about a small group of people who might be sanctioned for three years, with the withdrawal of their benefit unaffected whatever they do in terms of recanting, puts them in a desperate situation. It means that they will be further away from the workplace. I do not know whether they can volunteer or would be involved in the work programme—these are issues that we can pick up in due course—but I urge the Minister to reconsider around this issue because there is something that could benefit the Government in what they are trying to achieve. Having said that to the Minister and suggested that he might frame his diagram and put it alongside the Pensions Bill that he got last night, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 51FZB withdrawn. Amendments 51FZC to 51FA not moved. Clause 26 agreed. Clause 27 : Other sanctions Clause 27 : Other sanctions Amendment 51FB not moved. Clause 27 agreed. Clause 28 : Hardship payments Amendment 51FC Clause 28 : Hardship payments Amendment 51FC Moved by