House of Lords - Welfare Reform and Work Bill

Monday 25 January 2016 Meeting starts at 2.30pm

1. Oral questions: Additional expenditure on housing benefit paid to private landlords as a result of the reduction of social housing units
2. Oral questions: Capacity of Local Authorities to manage the relief effort in area of flooding following budget cuts
3. Oral questions: The social and environmental impact of the extraction of coal-bed methane on forests
4. Legislation: Welfare Reform and Work Bill - Report stage (day 1)
5. Motion: Motion to regret that the Education (Student Support) (Amendment) Regulations 2015, which change the existing student support arrangements so that new students starting full-time courses after 1 September 2016 will no longer qualify for a means-tested maintenance grant, will result in a significant decrease in participation in higher education by those in low-income groups, older students, female students, and students from ethnic minorities 
   Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Labour)
6. Legislation: Faversham Oyster Fishery Company Bill [HL] - 1st reading
7. Legislation: Haberdashers' Aske's Charity Bill [HL] - 1st reading
8. Legislation: New Southgate Cemetery Bill [HL] - 1st reading

FACT - A Bill is a proposal for a new law, or a proposal to change an existing law, presented for debate before Parliament. A Bill can start in the Commons or the Lords and must be approved in the same form by both Houses before becoming an Act (law).

Download to briefing paper below and learn more about the Bill. 

Watch it live Here From the Lords Chamber - Monday 25 January 2016 Meeting starts at 2.30pm

Ahead of a key vote on the Welfare Reform and Work Bill this week in the House of Lords, over 30 national charities, members of the Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC), have signed an open letter (below) to Iain Duncan Smith warning that the Government’s cut to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will “push disabled people further away from work and closer to poverty.”

The Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC) is a national coalition of over 60 different charities and other organisations committed to working towards a fair benefits system.

The Government has proposed a cut of £30-a-week for new claimants in the Work Related Activity Group (WRAG) of ESA. The WRAG is specifically there to provide support for those people who are assessed as being unfit for work but able to undertake activities to help them move towards work. Currently there are almost half a million sick and disabled people receiving this benefit.

The Government has however suggested that sick and disabled people who get this benefit are being disincentivised from finding work because of the £30-a-week more they get compared to those on Job Seeker’s Allowance. However the DBC strongly disputes this claim and a recent survey in October 2015 of over 500 disabled people found this to be completely false:

• Almost half (45%) of respondents say that the cut would probably mean they would return to work later
• Just 1% said the cut would motivate them to get a job sooner
• Almost 7 in 10 (69%) say cuts to ESA will cause their health to suffer
• More than a quarter (28%) say they sometimes can’t afford to eat on the current amount they receive from ESA
• 40% have become more isolated and less able to see friends or family after their ESA was withdrawn or reduced.

This warning comes just two weeks after 150 disabled people from across the country visited Parliament to speak directly to their MPs about their concerns around the Welfare Reform and Work Bill, particularly the cut to ESA. This DBC ‘mass lobby’ took place on Wednesday 13th January and acted to show MPs the huge fears that exist amongst disabled people around their benefits.

Research from Mencap, a co-chair of the DBC, has revealed the extent to which the public are against the Government’s cuts to welfare and the effect this will have on disabled people.

The general public poll of over 2,000 UK adults revealed that:

• 71% of people think cuts to welfare will make the UK a worse place for disabled people to live.
• Just 6% thought the Welfare Reform and Work Bill would make the UK a better place for disabled people.

Jan Tregelles, Chief Executive of Mencap, said:

“Not only are disabled people telling us loud and clear that this cut to ESA will make their lives harder, with both their health and chances of returning to work being harmed, we also see how the general public are deeply concerned with these cuts. The fact that just 6% of people believe the Welfare Reform and Work Bill will make the UK a better place for disabled people shows the need for the Government to reassess its benefits reforms.

“Disabled people have told us of the vital role support from benefits like ESA plays in their lives, and the fact that so many say that taking this support away would leave them isolated from their communities, closer to poverty and further from work should be enough to make the Government listen – especially when this cut directly contradicts its noble desire to halve the disability employment gap.

“Ahead of this key vote in the House of Lords we ask Peers to listen to disabled people’s deep concerns, and urge the Government not to create a step backwards for disabled people in our society.”

Sam Jefferies, who met with his local MP at the DBC lobby, and who has a learning disability and is on ESA WRAG, said:

“I am really worried about benefits cuts. Only 6% of people with a learning disability are currently in employment. This number scares me as I, like a lot of people with a learning disability, really want to get a job; however, it is really hard to get work if you have a learning disability. Benefits are important to me because the money helps me to stay independent, if it was cut I’m worried that I’d become isolated.”

Open Letter to Iain Duncan Smith:

“Dear Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, we believe the Government’s proposed cut to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will undermine its commitment to halve the disability employment gap, and push sick and disabled people further away from work and closer to poverty.

“The Government committed to protecting disability benefits, but instead is pushing through a cut of £30 a week to new claimants in the Work Related Activity Group of ESA. These are sick and disabled people who have been found currently unable to work. The Government says this £30 disincentivises sick and disabled people from finding work, but it has so far offered no evidence for this claim. In fact a recent independent Review showed the opposite is true: that this cut will make it harder for disabled people to find work.

“Almost 70% of sick and disabled people we surveyed say this cut to ESA would cause their health to suffer and just under half said they would not be able to return to work so quickly. We call on the Government to listen to the damaging effect this will have on the lives of sick and disabled people and immediately halt this cut.”

Signed:
1. Lord Low of Dalston CBE
2. Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE
3. Baroness Meacher
4. Jan Tregelles, Chief Executive of Mencap
5. Steve Ford, Chief Executive of Parkinson’s UK
6. Michelle Mitchell OBE, Chief Executive of the MS Society
7. Lesley-Anne Alexander CBE, Chief Executive of RNIB
8. Mark Lever, Chief Executive of the National Autistic Society
9. Mark Winstanley, Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness
10. Paul Farmer CBE, Chief Executive of Mind
11. Lynda Thomas, Chief Executive of Macmillan Cancer Support
12. Liz Sayce, Chief Executive of Disability Rights UK
13. Heléna Herklots, Chief Executive of Carers UK
14. Gillian Morbey OBE, Chief Executive of Sense
15. Richard Leaman CB OBE, Chief Executive of Guide Dogs
16. Paul Breckell, Chief Executive of Action on Hearing Loss
17. Alison Garnham, Chief Executive of Child Poverty Action Group
18. Amanda Batten, Chief Executive of Contact a Family
19. Deborah Gold, Chief Executive of National AIDS Trust
20. Jackie Morton, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust
21. Carol Boys, Chief Executive of Down’s Syndrome Association
22. Jeff Skipp, Chief Executive of Deafblind UK
23. Sonya Chowdhury, Chief Executive of Action for M.E.
24. Dr Adrian James, Registrar of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
25. Philip Lee, Chief Executive of Epilepsy Action
26. David Barker, Chief Executive of Crohn’s & Colitis UK
27. Debbie Cook, Chief Executive of National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society
28. Stephen Fisher, Chair of RSI Action
29. Paul Lenihan MBE, Chief Executive of Action Duchenne
30. Dave Webber, Chief Executive of Livability
31. Chris Simmonds, Chief Executive of Revitalise
32. Tanya Marlow, Founder of Compassionate Britain
33. Peter Corbett, Chief Executive of Thomas Pocklington Trust
34. Theresa Shearer, Chief Executive of ENABLE Scotland
35. Teresa Catto-Smith, Founder of Autism in Scotland
36. Billy Watson, Chief Executive of Scottish Association for Mental Health
37. Ian Welsh, Chief Executive of Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland

The ABC was invited to the Romanian Embassy on Friday 22 January for a meeting to explain more about our organisation, and how we plan to assist European Workers - those on benefits, those retired or retiring. To help workers and business people learn more about the opportunities and possibilities that ‘Romania and Romanians’ have to offer.  

I had a very warm and generous welcome and a very interesting discussion ensued as we shared ideas and experiences.  

According to the Guardian today - Iain Duncan Smith is to campaign independently for Britain to leave the European Union, spurning the rival campaigns seeking to act as the main group pushing to quit in the EU referendum. The ABC believes that staying in Europe is a good thing. Having been through two massive wars in Europe in the last century - with eighty million dead in WW2 and horrific casualties in WW1 caused by the industrialization of killing - we would rather be part of a family that has its issues and disagreements, than to be left in isolation.

There is a powerful China in the ascendancy, tension in the region over the Spratly Islands and more importantly the oil and gas reserves believed to be under the South China Sea. We have a Russia Bear planning their own version of the EU, with trouble in Ukraine and Crimea – plus tension in the Middle East and Syria. The UK with an Army of 70,000 odd, up against a China (for example) with two million troops - we don’t have the clout we once did.   The US has been friends and allies of the UK, but what will that mean if the UK is led to the side-lines by Duncan Smith and his followers? The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) has protected UK citizens from our own government. 

How can we fund benefits and pensions if the UK breaks-up, as both Wales and Scotland want to stay in the EU? What if financial services companies, banks and the huge City based insurance and reassurance industry moves to Frankfurt?  

Europe is an opportunity not a threat. The EU is still a very new organisation and we are in favour of staying in and working to make it better.  

Romanian is a great county with low crime rate, a well-educated population and has oustanding investment opportunities. It has untouched, unspoilt medieval forests the size of the UK where big predators like bears and wolves can live. A stunning resort coastline on the Black Sea and the unspoilt wetlands of the Danube Delta appeals to those interested in nature. Bucharest is the fastest growing City in Europe.

We have not packed our bags quite yet, but if you want to live, not just exist, Romania has a lot to offer.  

We must thank the Embassy courteously for their kind invitation, and we hope we can build on this excellent start.  

The Roumanian Embassy

FACT: Unification Day (National Holiday) is on Sunday 24th January. 

Voices from the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davro

Tony Blair has been reminding party guests this week that one of his former interns is now the prime minister of Malta.

Encouragement to all interns we hope - one day all that free labour will have benefitted you as it certainly did your employer.

Davos is host to the World Economic Forum (WEF), an annual meeting of global political and business elites (often referred to simply as Davos) and the home of one of Switzerland's biggest ski resorts

Davos

In the Seanad today, Senator Ivana Bacik will introduce the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2016 on behalf of the Labour Party Senators, as a Private Members’ Bill. Senator Aideen Hayden of Labour will second the Bill.

 
Speaking to propose the Bill today, Senator Bacik will say: “Under competition law, currently every self-employed person is considered to be a separate independent economic undertaking. If one self-employed person combines with others to set prices for their services, they can be accused of an illegal anti-competitive practice. At its most extreme, freelance journalists in a newsroom would be barred from bargaining collectively with their common employer about their wages. That is the understanding in Irish law under the Competition Act 2002, and that is what this important Bill seeks to change.

“The Bill will allow self-employed workers, such as actors or journalists, who personally provide work or perform services, to collectively bargain with their employers. However, the Bill is narrowly drafted so as to ensure consumers remain protected from illegal price-fixing. I know that many unions, such as the NUJ and SIPTU, have sought the change in the law that this Bill will achieve; and that they will welcome the introduction of this Labour private members’ bill this evening – it marks an important advance in the protection of vulnerable workers.”

This Bill stems from a longstanding Labour Party commitment to ensure protection of the right to collectively bargain for freelance workers, including journalists, actors and others who perform their work on a self-employed or contract for services basis. It is in keeping with a commitment contained in the Labour document 'Standing Up for Working People' (January 2016) and is modelled on a bill published in 2012 by Labour TD Emmet Stagg.

For September to November 2015, 74.0% of people aged from 16 to 64 were in work, the highest employment rate since comparable records began in 1971.

The unemployment rate for September to November 2015 was 5.1%, down from 5.8% for a year earlier.

It is not all good however

Real pay growth has fallen to its lowest level since February 2015, the Resolution Foundation said today (Wednesday) in response to the latest ONS labour market statistics.

The overall employment rate hit another record high (74 per cent), with strong growth recorded in both full-time jobs and self-employment, which is at its highest ever level (4.62 million).

However, the welcome news on employment was tempered by a further slowdown in the UK’s pay recovery, with real (regular) earnings growth falling to 1.9 per cent – as predicted earlier this week by RF. This is the slowest growth rate since February 2015 and below the pre-crisis average of 2.2 per cent.

The Foundation notes that with inflation now rising and set to increase further in the coming months, fresh impetus will be needed to maintain momentum in the UK’s pay recovery.

It adds that despite its impressive jobs record, the UK remains some way short of being a genuine world leader on employment. Further progress will be needed – particularly among BAME and disabled people, the low-qualified and other groups whose employment prospects vary hugely across the country – in order to make the Chancellor’s laudable goal of securing full employment a reality.

Laura Gardiner, Senior Policy Analyst at the Resolution Foundation, said:

“The UK jobs market continues to strengthen, with strong growth in both full-time jobs and self-employment.

“But while recent employment trends are very positive, the UK’s pay recovery risks running out of steam. Real earnings growth has fallen back below its pre-crisis trend, even while inflation remains close to zero.

“One of the key economic tests for 2016 is whether the early signs of a productivity recovery will strengthen enough to offset rising inflation and put the UK’s pay recovery back on track.”

Main points for September to November 2015

• There were 31.39 million people in work, 267,000 more than for June to August 2015 and 588,000 more than for a year earlier.
• There were 22.96 million people working full-time, 436,000 more than for a year earlier. There were 8.43 million people working part-time, 152,000 more than for a year earlier.
• The employment rate (the proportion of people aged from 16 to 64 who were in work) was 74.0%, the highest since comparable records began in 1971.
• There were 1.68 million unemployed people (people not in work but seeking and available to work), 99,000 fewer than for June to August 2015 and 239,000 fewer than for a year earlier.
• There were 919,000 unemployed men, 149,000 fewer than for a year earlier. There were 756,000 unemployed women, 89,000 fewer than for a year earlier.
• The unemployment rate was 5.1%, lower than for a year earlier (5.8%). It has not been lower since August to October 2005. The unemployment rate is the proportion of the labour force (those in work plus those unemployed) that were unemployed.
• There were 8.92 million people aged from 16 to 64 who were economically inactive (not working and not seeking or available to work), 93,000 fewer than for June to August 2015 and 172,000 fewer than for a year earlier.
• The inactivity rate (the proportion of people aged from 16 to 64 who were economically inactive) was 21.9%, lower than for a year earlier (22.4%). The inactivity rate has not been lower since October to December 1990.
• Average weekly earnings for employees in Great Britain increased by 2.0% including bonuses and by 1.9% excluding bonuses compared with a year earlier.

Welfare Reform Committee
2nd Meeting, 2016

 It started: 19/01/2016 10:00

Finishes: 19/01/2016 12:00

Robert Burns Room (CR1)

1. Decision on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take item 3 in private.

2. Subordinate Legislation: The Welfare Funds (Scotland) Regulations 2016 The Committee will take evidence from—

Jacqui Kopel, Senior Council Tax and Benefits Manager, Dundee City Council;

Jules Oldham, National Policy & Practice Coordinator, Homeless Action Scotland;

Bill Scott, Director of Policy, Inclusion Scotland;

Carly Edgar, Policy Manager, Who Cares? Scotland;

Jamie Stewart, Housing Development Officer, Scottish Refugee Council;

Morag Johnston, Assistant Director of Financial Services, Glasgow City Council;

Jon Shaw, Welfare Rights Worker, Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland;

Councillor Norman MacDonald, Convener, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

3. Subordinate Legislation: Welfare Funds (Scotland) Regulations 2016 The Committee will consider the evidence it has heard on the Welfare Funds (Scotland) Regulations 2016 

 Video below: 

The First Minister comes under fire in regard to social care. We are in our infancy coving the Scottish Parliament but we are pleased to bring these debates to you. If you are a care working this is a debate worth following. 

Plaid Cymru responds to Tata steel job losses

Devastating news for the affected families, and for the steel community

Responding to the confirmation than more than a thousand jobs will be lost at Tata steel sites across south Wales, Plaid Cymru Shadow Economy Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth AM said:

“Although this announcement had, sadly, been it expected, this is devastating news for the families involved and the communities Port Talbot, Llanwern and Llanelli.

“These job losses will have a huge impact on these areas, and the challenge now is for the Welsh Government to do all it can to minimise the impact.

“Plaid Cymru has set out what we want to see happen. In addition to immediate support for those who face the prospect of losing their jobs, we want the Welsh Government to look with urgency at ALL options to support the steel industry. That must include considering if the Welsh Government could take a temporary stake in the company, entering into a joint partnership with Tata to help protect workers and this crucial industry to help it survive these difficult economic times. That should be in addition to seeking help on energy, business rates and action on an EU level.

“There is a bright future for steel in Wales, but urgent help is needed to get us through these difficult times.”