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 Shared Accommodation Rate (SAR) limits the amount of Housing Benefit that single person under the age of 35 can receive. This note provides background information on the operation of the SAR and its extension in January 2012 to claimants under age 35.
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