This is an account of the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Welfare Reform Bill. It complements Research Papers 11/23 and 11/24, prepared for the Commons Second Reading debate.
Welfare Reform Bill: Committee Stage Report (545 KB , PDF)
The Welfare Reform Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 16 February 2011 and had its Second Reading on 9 March. It was considered in Public Bill Committee in 26 sittings between 22 March and 24 May. The most significant change to the Bill was the insertion of a Government New Clause and Schedule to establish a Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission. A Government New Clause was also agreed on information-sharing in relation to tax credit fraud, to support the introduction of the new Single Fraud Investigation Service. No Opposition amendments to the Bill were agreed.
The Bill, as amended in Public Bill Committee, was published as Bill 197.
The Report Stage and Third Reading of the Bill are scheduled to take place on 13 and 15 June 2011.
Welfare Reform Bill: Committee Stage Report (545 KB , PDF)
The Government has committed to abolish 'no-fault' section 21 evictions in the private rented sector. A Renters' Reform Bill was promised in the 2019 Queen's Speech to achieve this. This paper explains the use of section 21 and reactions to its proposed abolition.
General guidance on handling routine immigration casework
As British and coalition forces withdraw from Afghanistan there are increasing fears for the safety of thousands of former locally employed Afghan civilians who assisted them. This briefing examines the Government's policies for resettlement of locally employed civilians in the UK.
