Social Security Bill — New clause — 13 May 1998

It being after Ten o'clock, further consideration of the Lords amendments stood adjourned.

Motion made, and Question put forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 15 (Exempted business),

That, at this day's sitting, Consideration of Lords Amendments to the Social Security Bill may be proceeded with, though opposed, until any hour.-- [Mr. Kevin Hughes.]

Question agreed to.

Lords amendments further considered.

Amendment (b) to the Lords amendment agreed to.

Lords amendment, as amended, agreed to [Special Entry].

Lords amendment No. 65 agreed to [Special Entry].

Lords amendment: No. 66, in page 35, line 33, leave out ("a period falling in")

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment.

Mr. Deputy Speaker:

With this, it will be convenient to discuss Lords amendments Nos. 67 to 70.

Lords amendment agreed to.

Lords amendments Nos. 67 to 73 agreed to.

Lords amendment: No. 74, in page 46, line 4, leave out ("£62.45") and insert ("£64.70")

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment.

Mr. Deputy Speaker:

With this, it will be convenient to discuss Lords amendment No. 75. I should inform the House that these amendments involve privilege.

Lords amendment agreed to [Special Entry].

Lords amendment No. 75 agreed to [Special Entry].

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment.

Mr. Deputy Speaker:

With this, it will be convenient to take Lords amendment No. 91. I should inform the House that the amendment involves privilege.

Lords amendment agreed to [Special Entry].

Lords amendment: No. 77, in page 47, line 15, leave out from

("parent") to end of line 17

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment.

Mr. Deputy Speaker:

I inform the House that this amendment involves privilege.

Lords amendment agreed to [Special Entry].

Lords amendment: No. 78, to leave out clause 72

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment.

Mr. Deputy Speaker:

I inform the House that this amendment involves privilege.

Lords amendment agreed to [ Special Entry ].

Lords amendments Nos. 79 and 80 agreed to.

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment.

The amendment deals with the circumstances in which a person claiming an incapacity benefit is to be treated as capable or incapable of work. It introduces a new regulation-making power to allow pilot schemes to be set up. The schemes will allow us to test the effect of less restrictive definitions of incapacity in order to improve opportunities for disabled people, and to test different measures to determine the most effective ways of helping those sick and disabled people who want to move towards the world of work so to do.

13 May 1998 : Column 483

Lords amendment agreed to.

Lords amendment: No. 82, before clause 75, to insert the following new clause-- Expenditure for facilitating transfer of functions etc. --

".--(1) The Secretary of State and the Commissioners of Inland Revenue may incur expenditure in doing anything which in his or their opinion is appropriate for the purpose of facilitating either of the following things, namely--

(a) the transfer to the Commissioners of such of the functions of the Secretary of State as are exercisable by the Contributions Agency; and

(b) the exercise by the Commissioners of those functions.

(2) The powers conferred by subsection (1) above--

(a) shall be exercisable whether or not Parliament has given any approval on which either of the things there mentioned depends; and

(b) shall be without prejudice to any power conferred otherwise than by virtue of that subsection.

(3) Any expenditure incurred under this section shall be defrayed out of money provided by Parliament.

(4) In its application to Northern Ireland, this section shall have effect with the following modifications, namely--

(a) for the first reference to the Secretary of State there shall be substituted a reference to the Department of Health and Social Services for Northern Ireland;

(b) for the reference to such of the functions of the Secretary of State as are exercisable by the Contributions Agency there shall be substituted a reference to such of the functions of that Department as correspond to those functions; and

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment.

Mr. Deputy Speaker (Mr. Michael Lord):

With this, it will be convenient to take Lords amendment No. 96.

Question put, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment:--

The House divided: Ayes 257, Noes 119.

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