Mr.
Murphy: The hon. Gentlemen can decide for themselves who
will intervene
first.
Danny
Alexander: I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. I
would suggest that he has discussions with his other ministerial
colleagues on this point because I can think of several other
examples—such as participation on the board of a housing
association—where this type of consideration might be usefully
extended beyond councillors to people in that sort of role. Some
community council involvement means that considerable amounts of time
are spent on consultation; it is not just whether such work should be
disregarded in deciding whether someone is entitled to benefit but also
whether any expenses that might be received should also be taken into
account. I hope that the Minister will take the matter further; I shall
be happy to have further discussions with him outside this
room.
Mr.
Murphy: I give way to the hon. Member for
Daventry.
Mr.
Boswell: These serial interventions are becoming
rather a habit. I reinforce that point for the Minister, not to prolong
his response. The DRC and others have identified a potential problem
for service users. I would emphasise that there is often the deterrent
effect of the possibility that even when they are merely a
reimbursement these payments might be taken into account or might in
some way affect the benefit because the person will be judged to be
capable of work. They are real concerns; I hope that the Minister will
reflect on them and perhaps consider whether he can be a little more
flexible without busting his budget in the process. I ask no more than
that.
Mr.
Murphy: I would be happy to continue the conversation. I
hope that in Inverness being invited outside the room has a different
meaning from that in Glasgow.
As we seek to implement the ESA
we must bear in mind the wider sense of work-related activity and the
relationship with voluntary work. The Committee has not yet had the
opportunity to discuss the role of voluntary work, which we will come
to later. Perhaps at that point we will have a debate about what will
be permissible under work-related activity in respect of the points
that have been
raised. The power in
subsection (1)(c) is important as it would allow the very thing that
Opposition Members have sought to push us towards this evening. The
hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey sought
reassurance that the current arrangements will be carried forward,
which is what we seek to do. In terms of how we go further, I make a
commitment to continue our conversations on the matter in the context
of allowing volunteering, permitted work and other issues which of
course fall within the Bill. I would encourage the hon. Gentleman to
ask leave to withdraw the
amendment.
Danny
Alexander: I am grateful to the Minister for his
reassurance. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the
amendment. Amendment,
by leave,
withdrawn. Further
consideration adjourned.—[Mr.
Heppell.] Adjourned
accordingly at seven minutes to Seven o’clock till Thursday 19
October at ten minutes past Nine
o’clock.
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