UK Parliament / Open data

Welfare Reform Bill

Proceeding contribution from Baroness Meacher (Crossbench) in the House of Lords on Wednesday, 23 November 2011. It occurred during Debate on bills and Committee proceeding on Welfare Reform Bill.
It seems to me that this is a tricky subject area. I am struggling as regards what benefit there might be in introducing Clause 99. It seems to me that one is shifting the responsibility from the DWP to get on and undertake one of these reconsiderations to the claimant requesting that this happens. I am sure that the Minister will accept that these claimants have a pretty difficult life to manage anyway. To add on another process that they have to go through is going to cause all sorts of problems. Why cannot the DWP improve its processes as regards the reconsiderations so that they can happen automatically if a claimant is concerned about a decision? The DWP should get on and undertake a reconsideration, asking for any further evidence or whatever it wants. If it comes out with the same decision, it then informs the claimant and asks him or her whether they wish to pursue their appeal. I am not clear about that process. Can the Minister help me with that?
Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
732 c455GC 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords Grand Committee
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