Welfare Reform and Work Bill — Commons Reasons and Amendment — 29 Feb 2016 at 17:15

Moved by Lord Freud

1: Before Clause 4, insert the following new Clause-“Child poverty Child poverty: reporting obligation(1) The Secretary of State must lay before each House of Parliament an annual report on child poverty.(2) The report must include information on the percentage of children living in households where-(a) equivalised net income for the financial year is less than 60% of median equivalised net household income for the most recent financial year;(b) equivalised net income for the financial year is less than 70% of median equivalised net household income for the most recent financial year, and which experience material deprivation;(c) equivalised net income for the financial year is less than 60% of median equivalised net household income for the financial year beginning 1 April 2010, adjusted in a prescribed manner to take account of changes in the value of money since that year; and(d) equivalised net income has been less than 60% of median equivalised net household income in at least 3 of the survey years.(3) For the purposes of subsection (2)(d), the survey years are the calendar year that ends in the financial year addressed in subsection (2)(a) and (b), and the 3 preceding calendar years.”

The Commons disagree to Lords Amendment No. 1 for the following reason-

1A: Because it is more appropriate to report on the matters listed in clause 4 and because low- income statistics are already published annually.

1B: Insert the following new Clause- “Children living in low-income households Publication of data on children living in low-income households(1) Before the end of the financial year beginning with 1 April 2016 and each subsequent financial year the Secretary of State must publish data on the percentage of children in the United Kingdom-(a) who live in households whose equivalised net income for the relevant financial year is less than 60% of median equivalised net household income for that financial year;(b) who live in households whose equivalised net income for the relevant financial year is less than 70% of median equivalised net household income for that financial year, and who experience material deprivation;(c) who live in households whose equivalised net income for the relevant financial year is less than 60% of median equivalised net household income for the financial year beginning 1 April 2010, adjusted to take account of changes in the value of money since that financial year;(d) who live in households whose equivalised net income has been less than 60% of median equivalised net household income in at least 3 of the last 4 survey periods.(2) The published data must be accompanied by information on how the Secretary of State has approached the following for the purpose of the data-(a) the meaning of “child”;(b) the meaning of “household”;(c) when a child is or is not living in a household;(d) what is the income of a household for a financial year;(e) what deductions are made in calculating the net income of a household;(f) how net household income is equivalised;(g) when a child experiences material deprivation;(h) how household income is adjusted to take account of changes in the value of money since the financial year beginning 1 April 2010;(i) the meaning of “survey period”.(3) The published data may be accompanied by information as to how and when the references in subsections (1) and (2) to the financial year beginning 1 April 2010 are to be read as references to a later financial year.(4) In this section-“equivalised”, in relation to household income, means adjusted to take account of variations in household size and composition;“financial year” means the 12 months ending with 31 March;“relevant financial year”, in relation to a financial year in which data is to be published, means the most recent financial year for which the data is available.”

1C: Clause 30, page 26, line 38, after “sections” insert “(Publication of data on children living in low-income households)”

1D: Clause 31, page 27, line 30, after “sections” insert “(Publication of data on children living in low income households)”

Moved by Lord Freud

8: Clause 13, leave out Clause 13

The Commons disagree to Lords Amendment No. 8 for the following reason-

8A: Because it would alter the financial arrangements made by the Commons, and the Commons do not offer any further Reason, trusting that this Reason may be deemed sufficient.

Moved by Lord Low of Dalston

8B: Clause 13, page 14, line 24, at end insert-“(8) Subsections (2) and (3) shall not come into force until the Secretary of State has laid before both Houses of Parliament a report giving his or her estimate of the impact of the provisions in those subsections on the-(a) physical and mental health,(b) financial situation, and(c) ability to return to work,of persons who would otherwise be entitled to start claiming the work-related activity component of employment and support allowance.(9) Regulations bringing subsections (2) and (3) into force shall not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.”

8C: Clause 13, page 28, line 2, at end insert “, subject to section 13(8) and (9)””

Ayes 289, Noes 219.

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