House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee · John Penrose MP (Conservative, Weston-Super-Mare)...

House of Commons

Work and Pensions Committee

Formal Minutes

Session 2007–08

The Work and Pensions Committee

The Work and Pensions Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration, and policy of the Department for Work and Pensions and its associated public bodies.

Membership

Mr Terry Rooney MP (Labour, Bradford North) (Chairman) Miss Anne Begg MP (Labour, Aberdeen South) Harry Cohen MP (Labour, Leyton and Wanstead) Natascha Engel (Labour, North East Derbyshire) (discharged 8.11.07) Michael Jabez Foster MP (Labour, Hastings and Rye) Mr Oliver Heald MP (Conservative, North East Hertfordshire) John Howell MP (Conservative, Henley) (added 15.07.08) Mrs Joan Humble MP (Labour, Blackpool North and Fleetwood) Tom Levitt MP (Labour, High Peak) (added 8.11.07) Greg Mulholland MP (Liberal Democrat, Leeds North West) John Penrose MP (Conservative, Weston-Super-Mare) Mark Pritchard MP (Conservative, The Wrekin) (discharged 15.07.08) Jenny Willott MP (Liberal Democrat, Cardiff Central)

Powers

The committee is one of the departmental select committees, the powers of which are set out in House of Commons Standing Orders, principally in SO No 152. These are available on the Internet via www.parliament.uk.

Publications

The Reports and evidence of the Committee are published by The Stationery Office by Order of the House. All publications of the Committee (including press notices) are on the Internet at www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/work_and_pensions_committee.cfm. A list of Reports of the Committee in the present Parliament is at the back of this volume.

Committee staff

The staff of the Committee as at 26 November 2008 were James Rhys (Clerk), Emma Graham (Second Clerk), Amy Sweeney and Hanna Haas (Committee Specialists), Laura Humble (Committee Media Adviser), John-Paul Flaherty (Senior Committee Assistant), Hannah van Schijndel (Committee Assistant) and John Kittle (Senior Office Clerk).

Contacts

All correspondence should be addressed to the Clerk of the Work and Pensions Committee, House of Commons, 7 Millbank, London SW1P 3JA. The telephone number for general enquiries is 020 7219 5833; the Committee’s email address is [email protected]

Proceedings of the Committee

Wednesday 7 November 2007

Members present:

Mr Terry Rooney, in the Chair

Miss Anne Begg Mrs Joan Humble Harry Cohen Greg Mulholland Mr Oliver Heald John Penrose Michael Jabez Foster Jenny Willott

The best start in life? Resolved, That the Committee visit Cardiff on 29 November 2007 in connection with the inquiry. Steve Broach, Every Disabled Child Matters; Martin Narey, Barnardo’s; and Jason Strelitz, Save the Children gave oral evidence. Kate Green, Child Poverty Action Group; and Kate Bell, One Parent Families Gingerbread gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 21 November at 9.15 a.m.

Monday 12 – Wednesday 14 November The Chairman, Miss Anne Begg, Harry Cohen, Michael Jabez Foster, Mrs Joan Humble, Greg Mulholland, John Penrose and Jenny Willott visited Norway in connection with the inquiry into The best start in life? in accordance with the Committee’s decision of 10 October 2007.


Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Mrs Joan Humble Harry Cohen Tom Levitt Mr Oliver Heald Greg Mulholland Michael Jabez Foster John Penrose

Declaration of interests Tom Levitt declared an unremunerated interest as Chair of the Community Development Foundation in accordance with the resolution of the House of 13 July 1992. Future business The Committee considered this matter. The best start in life? The Committee considered this matter. Richard Exell, TUC; Keith Faulkner, Working Links; and Alex Bax and Doreen Kenny, Greater London Authority gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 28 November at 9.15am


Members present:

Mr Terry Rooney in the Chair

Miss Anne Begg Tom Levitt Harry Cohen Greg Mulholland Michael Jabez Foster John Penrose Mr Oliver Heald Mark Pritchard Mrs Joan Humble Jenny Willott

Health and Safety Commission and Executive Resolved, that the Committee conduct an inquiry into the Health and Safety Commission and Executive. Judith Hackitt, Chair, Health and Safety Commission and Geoffrey Podger, Chief Executive, Health and Safety Executive gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Monday 3 December at 4pm

Thursday 29 November The Chairman, Michael Jabez Foster, Mr Oliver Heald, Mrs Joan Humble, Tom Levitt, Greg Mulholland, John Penrose and Jenny Willott visited Cardiff in connection with the inquiry into The best start in life? in accordance with the Committee’s decision of 7 November.

Monday 3 December 2007

Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Tom Levitt Harry Cohen Greg Mulholland Mrs Joan Humble Jenny Willott

Health and Safety Commission and Executive The Committee considered this matter. The best start in life? Caroline Flint MP, Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform, Department for Work and Pensions; and Rt Hon Jane Kennedy MP, Financial Secretary to the Treasury gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 5 December at 9.15am

Wednesday 5 December 2007

Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Mrs Joan Humble Harry Cohen Tom Levitt Michael Jabez Foster John Penrose

Health and Safety Commission and Executive Ordered, That Dr Alex Grieve and Professor Philip James be appointed as Specialist Advisers to assist the Committee in its inquiry into the Health and Safety Commission and Executive. Ordered, That written evidence relating to the Health and Safety Commission and Executive be reported to the House for publication on the internet (numbers HSE 1 – 11). The best start in life? The Committee considered this matter. Future business The Committee considered this matter. Department for Work and Pensions Winter Supplementary Estimates Ordered, That the Department for Work and Pensions Winter Supplementary Estimates 2007-08 Memorandum be reported to the House for publication on the internet.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 9 January at 9.15am

Monday 10 – Tuesday 11 December The Chairman, Miss Anne Begg, Harry Cohen, Michael Jabez Foster, Mr Oliver Heald, Mrs Joan Humble, Tom Levitt, Greg Mulholland, and Mark Pritchard visited Brussels to examine policy developments in the field of social affairs, employment and equal opportunities in accordance with the Committee’s decision of 28 February 2007.

Wednesday 9 January 2008

Members present:



Full employment and world class skills: responding to the challenges Draft Special Report [Full employment and world class skills: responding to the challenges; Government response to the Committee’s Eighth Report of Session 2006-07], proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first and second time, and agreed to. Ordered, That the Government’s response to the Eighth Report from the Committee be appended to the report.

Resolved, That the Report be the First Special Report of the Committee to the House. Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House. Petitions The Committee considered the petition presented to the House on 5 December 2007 concerning carers’ allowance. Health and Safety Commission and Executive Resolved, That the Committee take oral evidence from: Professor Frank Wright, Chris Jackson, and the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers; the Federation of Master Builders, EEF (the manufacturers organisation) and the CBI; UCATT and Prospect; the GMB and the TUC; the British Occupational Hygiene Society, the Association of British Insurers and the Royal College of Nursing; the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health; Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services; and Lord McKenzie of Luton, the Health and Safety Executive and the Health and Safety Commission. Resolved, That the Committee visit the Olympic construction site at Stratford and the Health and Safety Laboratory in Buxton in February 2008.

Resolved, That the Committee visit Germany in connection with the inquiry on Health and Safety Executive and that the Chairman seek the approval of the Liaison Committee for expenditure in connection with the visit.



Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Tom Levitt Harry Cohen John Penrose Michael Jabez Foster Mark Pritchard Mr Oliver Heald Jenny Willott

Health and Safety Commission and Executive The Committee considered this matter.

Ordered, That written evidence relating to the Inquiry into the Health and Safety Commission and Executive be reported to the House for publication on the internet (numbers HSE 12- 45).

[Adjourned till Monday 21 January at 4pm

Monday 21 January 2008

Members present:


Harry Cohen Mrs Joan Humble Michael Jabez Foster Tom Levitt Mr Oliver Heald

Health and Safety Commission and Executive The Committee considered this matter. The best start in life? The Committee considered this matter.



Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Mrs Joan Humble Harry Cohen Tom Levitt Michael Jabez Foster Greg Mulholland Mr Oliver Heald

Health and Safety Commission and Executive The Committee considered this matter. Professor Frank Wright; Chris Jackson; and Martin Bears, Association of Personal Injury Lawyers gave oral evidence. Dr Janet Asherson, Head of Health and Safety, CBI; Ms Louise Ward, Health and Safety Manager, EEF (the manufacturers organisation); and Mr Richard Diment, Director General, the Federation of Master Builders gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Monday 28 January at 4pm

Monday 28 January 2008

Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Mrs Joan Humble Harry Cohen Tom Levitt Michael Jabez Foster John Penrose Mr Oliver Heald Jenny Willott

Carers Resolved, That the Committee inquire into Carers. Resolved, That the Committee visit Australia in May 2008 in connection with its inquiry into Carers, and that the Chairman seek the approval of the Liaison Committee for expenditure in connection with the visit.

The best start in life? The Committee considered this matter.

[ Adjourned till Wednesday 30 January at 9.15am


Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Tom Levitt Mr Oliver Heald John Penrose Mrs Joan Humble Jenny Willott

Work of the Committee in 2007 The Committee considered this matter

Draft Report [The Work of the Committee in 2007], proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read. The draft Report was agreed to; the Minutes of Proceedings relating to the Committee's consideration of the Report are published in the First Report of the Committee [HC 317] The best start in life? The Committee considered this matter.

[Adjourned till Monday 4 February at 4pm

Monday 4 February 2008

Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Mrs Joan Humble Harry Cohen Tom Levitt Michael Jabez Foster Jenny Willott Mr Oliver Heald

Department for Work and Pensions Autumn Performance Report 2007 Resolved, That the Committee take oral evidence from Sir Leigh Lewis, Permanent Secretary, Department for Work and Pensions on the DWP’s Autumn Performance Review 2007. Health and Safety Commission and Executive Jim Kennedy, National Political Officer, UCATT; and Mike MacDonald, Negotiations Officer, Prospect gave oral evidence. Daniel Shears, Health, Safety and Environmental Research and Policy Officer, GMB; and Tom Wilson, Head of Organisation and Service, TUC gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 6 February at 9.15am

Wednesday 6 February 2008

Members present:



Carers The Committee considered this matter. The best start in life? The Committee considered this matter.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 20 February at 9.15am

Monday 18 February The Chairman, Miss Anne Begg, Harry Cohen, Michael Jabez Foster, Oliver Heald, Mrs Joan Humble, Tom Levitt, Greg Mulholland and Jenny Willott visited Buxton in connection with the Committee’s inquiry into the Health and Safety Commission and Executive, in accordance with the Committee’s decision of 9 January.


Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Mrs Joan Humble Harry Cohen Tom Levitt Michael Jabez Foster John Penrose Mr Oliver Heald Jenny Willott

Health and Safety Commission and Executive Resolved, That the Committee cancel its visit to Germany. Pre-appointment hearings by Select Committees The Committee considered this matter. Ordered, That the Chairman should write to the Chairman of the Liaison Committee to recommend that the lists of appointments to be subject to pre-appointment scrutiny should include; the Independent Case Examiner, the Chairman of the Social Security Advisory Committee and the Chief Executives of DWP Agencies. The best start in life? The Committee considered this matter. Draft Report [The best start in life? Alleviating deprivation, improving social mobility and eradicating child poverty] proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read. The draft Report was agreed to; Minutes of Proceedings relating to the Committee's consideration of the Report are published in the Second Report of the Committee [HC 42].

[Adjourned till Wednesday 27 February 2008 at 9.15am

Tuesday 26 February The Chairman, Harry Cohen, Michael Jabez Foster, Tom Levitt, Greg Mulholland, Mark Pritchard and Jenny Willott visited the Olympic Construction Site at Stratford in connection with the Committee’s inquiry into the Health and Safety Commission and Executive, in accordance with the Committee’s decision of 9 January.


Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Tom Levitt Michael Jabez Foster Greg Mulholland Mr Oliver Heald John Penrose Mrs Joan Humble Mark Pritchard

Carers The Committee considered this matter. Department for Work and Pensions Spring Supplementary Estimates Resolved, That the Department for Work and Pensions Spring Supplementary Estimates 2007-08 Memorandum be reported to the House for publication on the internet. Future business Resolved, That the Committee take oral evidence from Rt Hon James Purnell MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the Department for Work and Pensions Three Year Plan. Health and Safety Commission and Executive Resolved, That the Committee take oral evidence from Dame Carol Black, National Director for Health and Work, in connection with the inquiry. Steve Bailey, President, British Occupational Hygiene Society; Nick Starling, Director of General Insurance and Health, Association of British Insurers; and Kim Sunley, Senior Employment Relations Adviser, Royal College of Nursing gave oral evidence. Ray Hurst, President; Ian Waldram, Past President; and Richard Jones, Policy and Technical Director, Institute of Occupational Safety and Health gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Monday 3 March at 4pm

Monday 3 March 2008

Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Mr Oliver Heald Harry Cohen Tom Levitt Michael Jabez Foster John Penrose

Department for Work and Pensions Autumn Performance Report 2007 Sir Leigh Lewis, Permanent Secretary; Adam Sharples, Director General, Work, Welfare and Equality Group; and Phil Wynn Owen, Director General, Strategy and Pensions, Department for Work and Pensions gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 5 March at 9.15am

Wednesday 5 March 2008

Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Tom Levitt Harry Cohen Greg Mulholland Michael Jabez Foster John Penrose Mr Oliver Heald Jenny WIllott Mrs Joan Humble

Future business Resolved, That Mr Mark Pritchard have leave to visit Seoul in June to attend the World Congress on Safety and Health at Work in a representative capacity. Health and Safety Commission and Executive Derek Allen, Chief Executive, LACORS gave oral evidence. Lord McKenzie of Luton, Parliamentary Under Secretary, Department for Work and Pensions; Geoffrey Podger, Chief Executive, Health and Safety Executive; and Judith Hackitt, Chair, Health and Safety Commission gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 12 March at 9.15am


Members present:


Miss Anne Begg John Penrose Michael Jabez Foster Mark Pritchard Tom Levitt Jenny Willott

Carers The Committee considered this matter. Future business The Committee considered this matter. Resolved, That the Committee take evidence from the Pensions Regulator and the Pension Protection Fund. Health and Safety Commission and Executive The Committee considered this matter.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 19 March at 9.15 a.m.


Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Mrs Joan Humble Harry Cohen Greg Mulholland Michael Jabez Foster John Penrose Mr Oliver Heald

Carers The Committee considered this matter.

Ordered, That Professor Sue Yeandle and Dr Hilary Arksey be appointed as Specialist Advisers to assist the Committee in relation to the Carers inquiry.

Health and Safety Commission and Executive Dame Carol Black, National Director for Health and Work, and Mr Hugh Stickland gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 26 March at a quarter past 9 o’clock


Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Tom Levitt Harry Cohen Greg Mulholland Mr Oliver Heald John Penrose Mrs Joan Humble Jenny Willott


[Adjourned till Monday 31 March at 4 o’clock

Monday 31 March 2008

Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Mrs Joan Humble Harry Cohen Tom Levitt Michael Jabez Foster John Penrose


[Adjourned till Wednesday 2 April at 9.15 a.m.

Monday 2 April 2008

Members present:


Carers The Committee considered this matter. DWP PSA Targets Ordered, That the Chairman should write to the Pensions Minister agreeing to his request that the Department cease reporting against its Comprehensive Spending Review 1998 target to “promote policies consistent with a change in the ratio of spending on pensions by the State to spending on pensions by the private sector from around 60:40 to 50:50 by 2025 and 40:60 by 2050.” Health and Safety Commission and Executive The Committee considered this matter. Draft Report [The role of the Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive in regulating workplace health and safety] proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read. The draft Report was agreed to; Minutes of Proceedings relating to the Committee’s consideration of the Report are published in the Third Report of the Committee [HC 246].


Miss Anne Begg Tom LevittMichael Jabez Foster Greg Mulholland Mr Oliver Heald John Penrose Mrs Joan Humble

Wednesday 23 April 2008

Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Greg Mulholland Harry Cohen John Penrose Michael Jabez Foster Mark Pritchard Mrs Joan Humble Jenny Willott Tom Levitt

Petition The Committee considered the petition to the House from Focus and the Richmond Fellowship, Scotland, concerning the level of the permitted earnings disregard for means tested benefits.

Personal Accounts Delivery Authority Resolved, that the Committee take oral evidence from the Chief Executive of the Personal Accounts Delivery Authority. Carers Resolved, that the Committee visit Harrogate in connection with its inquiry into Carers.

Resolved, that the Committee take oral evidence from: Carers UK, Counsel and Care and the National Autistic Society; Philippa Russell, Chair of the Standing Commission on Carers; Citizens Advice, Age Concern and the Local Government Association; BT Group, USDAW and the Equality and Human Rights Commission; Mr Ivan Lewis MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Mrs Anne McGuire MP, Minister for Disabled People, Department for Work and Pensions.


Wednesday 30 April 2008

Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Tom Levitt Harry Cohen Greg Mulholland Michael Jabez Foster John Penrose Mr Oliver Heald Mark Pritchard Mrs Joan Humble

Carers Ordered, that Carers UK be authorized to publish their written evidence on carers in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order No.135. Ordered, that the following written evidence relating to Carers be reported to the House for publication on the internet (numbers CARE 1- 26). DWP 3 Year Business Plan The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Rt. Hon James Purnell MP and Sir Leigh Lewis KCB, Permanent Secretary Department for Work and Pensions, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 7 May at 9.15 a.m.

Wednesday 7 May 2008

Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Tom Levitt Harry Cohen Greg Mulholland Mr Oliver Heald John Penrose Mrs Joan Humble Jenny Willott

Petitions The Committee noted that Observations from the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to the petition from Focus and the Richmond Fellowship, Scotland, concerning the level of the permitted earnings disregard for means tested benefits had been laid.

Carers Imelda Redmond, Carers UK; Steven Burke, Counsel and Care; and Carole Povey, National Autistic Society gave oral evidence.

Philippa Russell, Chair of the Standing Commission on Carers gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 21 May at 9.15 a.m.

Friday 9 May – Saturday 17 May The Chairman, Miss Anne Begg, Harry Cohen, Mr Oliver Heald, Tom Levitt, Greg Mulholland and Jenny Willott visited Australia in connection with the Committee’s inquiry into Carers, in accordance with the Committee’s decision of 28 January.

Wednesday 21 May 2008

Members present:


The best start in life? The Committee considered this matter. Contract Commissioning Resolved, That the Committee inquire into Contract Commissioning for Employment programmes and the Flexible New Deal. Resolved, That the Committee visit the Netherlands and that the Chairman seek the approval of the Liaison Committee for expenditure in connection with the visit. Carers Vicky Pearlman, Citizens Advice Bureaux; Sally West, Age Concern; and Gary Vaux, Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and Local Government Association gave oral evidence. Caroline Waters, BT; Ruth George, USDAW; and Nicola Brewer and Christina Barnes, EHRC gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 11 June at 9.15 a.m.

Miss Anne Begg Greg Mulholland Mr Oliver Heald John Penrose Mrs Joan Humble Mark Pritchard Tom Levitt Jenny Willott

Thursday 5 June The Chairman, Miss Anne Begg, Harry Cohen, Mr Oliver Heald, Mrs Joan Humble, Tom Levitt, Greg Mulholland and John Penrose, visited Harrogate in connection with the Committee’s inquiry into Carers, in accordance with the Committee’s decision of 23 April 2008.

Wednesday 11 June 2008

Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Tom Levitt Harry Cohen John Penrose Mr Oliver Heald Mark Pritchard Joan Humble

The best start in life? Draft Special Report [The best start in life? Alleviating deprivation, improving social mobility and eradicating child poverty: Government Response to the Committee’s Second Report of Session 2007-8] proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read the first and second time, and agreed to. The Government Response to the Second Report from the Committee was appended to the report. Resolved, That the Report be the Second Special Report of the Committee to the House. Ordered, that the Chairman make the Report to the House. Petition The Committee considered the petition from readers of the Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser concerning looped operating cords on window blinds and curtains which was presented to the House on Wednesday 4 June. Contract Commissioning The Committee considered this matter. Future business Resolved, That the Committee take evidence from a DWP Minister on the Employment and Support Allowance.

Resolved, That the Committee conduct an inquiry into disability equality in early 2009.

Resolved, That the Committee conduct an inquiry into pensioner poverty in spring 2009.

Resolved, That the Committee take evidence from DWP officials on DWP’s IT procurement.

[Adjourned till Monday 16 June at 4 p.m.

Monday 16 June 2008

Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Joan Humble Harry Cohen Tom Levitt

The Pensions Regulator and the Pension Protection Fund Tony Hobman, Chief Executive of the Pensions Regulator; and Lawrence Churchill, Chairman of the Pension Protection Fund gave oral evidence.



Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Greg Mulholland Mrs Joan Humble John Penrose Tom Levitt

Carers Anne McGuire MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Disabled People); and Ivan Lewis MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health gave oral evidence.



Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Tom Levitt Mr Oliver Heald John Penrose Mrs Joan Humble

Petition The Committee considered the petition to the House from the residents of Castle Point concerning the abolition of the Post Office Card Account. Contract Commissioning The Committee considered this matter. Ordered, That Professor Dan Finn and Professor Alan McGregor be appointed Specialist Advisers to assist the Committee in its inquiry. Health and Safety Commission and Executive Draft Special Report [The role of the HSC and HSE in regulating workplace health and safety: Government Response to the Committee’s Third report of Session 2007-8] proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read the first and second time, and agreed to. The Government Response to the Third report from the Committee was appended to the report. Resolved, That the Report be the Third Special Report of the Committee to the House. Ordered, that the Chairman make the Report to the House.


[Adjourned till Wednesday 2 July at 9.15 a.m.

Friday 27 June – Tuesday 1 July Mark Pritchard visited Seoul in a representative capacity to attend the World Congress on Safety and Health at Work, in accordance with the Committee’s decision of 5 March.

Wednesday 2 July 2008

Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Tom Levitt Mr Oliver Heald John Penrose Mrs Joan Humble Greg Mulholland

Petition The Committee considered the observations from the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on the petition to the House from residents of Castle Point concerning the abolition of the Post Office Card Account.

Employment and Support Allowance Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP, Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform; and Rebecca Sudworth, Head of Division, Disability and Work, Department for Work and Pensions and Phil Bartlett, Director of Programmes, Jobcentre Plus gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Monday 7 July at 4 p.m.

Monday 7 July 2008

Members present:


Harry Cohen Tom Levitt Mr Oliver Heald John Penrose Mrs Joan Humble

Personal Accounts Delivery Authority Tim Jones, Chief Executive of the Personal Accounts Delivery Authority, gave oral evidence.



Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Tom Levitt Harry Cohen John Penrose Mr Oliver Heald Mark Pritchard Mrs Joan Humble

Department for Work and Pensions Departmental Annual Report Rt Hon James Purnell MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions; and Sir Leigh Lewis, Permanent Secretary, gave oral evidence.


Monday 14 July 2008

Members present:


Anne Begg Tom Levitt Harry Cohen Greg Mulholland Mrs Joan Humble John Penrose




Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Tom Levitt John Howell John Penrose Mrs Joan Humble



Monday 21 July 2008

Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Mrs Joan Humble Harry Cohen Tom Levitt Mr Oliver Heald Greg Mulholland John Howell

Carers The Draft Report [Valuing and Supporting Carers] proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read. The draft Report was agreed to; Minutes of Proceedings relating to the Committee's consideration of the Report are published in the Fourth Report of the Committee [HC 485].

[Adjourned till 8 October at 9.15 a.m.

Wednesday 8 October 2008

Members present:


Miss Anne Begg John Howell Harry Cohen Mrs Joan Humble Michael Jabez Foster Tom Levitt Mr Oliver Heald John Penrose

Employment and Support Allowance The Committee considered this matter. Declaration of Interest John Howell declared his interests in accordance with the resolution of the House of 13 July 1992, as follows: Trustee of the Berinsfield Day Centre (unremunerated) Director of Berinsfield Employment Action Group LTD (unremunerated). Contract Commissioning Tom Levitt declared unremunerated interests in connection with the inquiry as Chairman of the All-Party Group on the Third Sector and Chairman of the Standing Advisory Group on the Third Sector of IDEA.

Resolved, That the Committee take oral evidence from the Social Market Foundation and Policy Exchange; ERSA, and ACEVO; CESI, and the Local Government Association; The Wise Group, SERCO, and Reed in Partnership; and the Rt Hon Tony McNulty MP, Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform.

Resolved, That the Committee visit Manchester in connection with its inquiry into Contract Commissioning.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 15 October 9.15 a.m.


Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Mrs Joan Humble Harry Cohen Tom Levitt John Howell John Penrose

Disability equality The Committee considered this matter. Petition The Committee considered the petition to the House from Mrs Shelagh Beswick and others, concerning the abolition of the Post Office Card Account.

The Committee considered the observations from the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the petition to the House from Mrs Shelagh Beswick and others, concerning the abolition of the Post Office Card Account. Contract Commissioning Resolved, that the Committee take oral evidence from A4E instead of from Reed in Partnership.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 22 October at 9.15 a.m.


Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Mrs Joan Humble Michael Jabez Foster Greg Mulholland Mr Oliver Heald John Penrose John Howell

Disability equality The Committee considered this matter.

Ordered, That Caroline Gooding and Nigel Meager be appointed Specialist Advisers to assist the Committee in its inquiry into disability equality. Regional Committees The Committee considered this matter.

Resolved, That the Committee remains to be convinced of the need for regional Committees and expresses concern at the potential for overlap with the work of Departmental Select Committees.-(Michael Jabez Foster) Contract Commissioning Ian Mulheirn, Chief Economist, The Social Market Foundation; and Lawrence Kay, Research Fellow, Policy Exchange gave oral evidence.

Stephen Bubb, Chief Executive, Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations; and Chris Melvin, Employment Related Services Association gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 29 October at a quarter past 9 o’clock


Members present:


Miss Anne Begg Mrs Joan Humble Harry Cohen Tom Levitt Michael Jabez Foster Greg Mulholand Mr Oliver Heald John Penrose John Howell

Contract Commissioning The Committee noted that Professor Alan McGregor, Special Adviser, had declared his interests as:

Board member of Skills Development Scotland Board member of Glasgow Works Board member of Glasgow East Regeneration Agency Member of the evaluation team for the Greater Manchester, Greater Merseyside and Dundee City Strategy Pathfinders

Member of the Expert group Advising the UK Commission on Employment and Skills in research strategy Member of the National Partnership Board for Workforce Plus Chair of the National Delivery Group for Workforce Plus

and Professor Dan Finn, Specialist Adviser, had declared his interests as: Associate Director (Research) with the Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion Producing a research report for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation Producing a research report for the Department of Work and Pensions.

Resolved, That the Committee cancel its proposed visit to Manchester. Resolved, That the Committee visit a Jobcentre Plus office in South London and the offices of Remploy in Euston Road. Richard Johnson, Managing Director, Welfare to Work, Serco; Austin Hardie, Operations Director, The Wise Group; and Rob Murdoch, Executive Director, A4E gave oral evidence.

David Coyne, Executive Director, Glasgow Works City Strategy Consortium; and Dave Simmonds, Chief Executive, Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 19 November at 9.15 a.m. Monday 3 – Tuesday 4 November The Chairman, Miss Anne Begg, Harry Cohen, Michael Jabez Foster, Mr Oliver Heald, Mrs Joan Humble, John Howell and John Penrose visited The Hague in connection with the inquiry into Contract Commissioning, in accordance with the Committee’s decision of 21 May. Wednesday 12 November The Chairman, Miss Anne Begg, Michael Jabez Foster, Mr Oliver Heald, Mrs Joan Humble, John Howell and John Penrose visited Jobcentre Plus, Kennington Park in connection with the inquiry into Contract Commissioning, in accordance with the Committee’s decision of 29 October. Monday 17 November Miss Anne Begg, Michael Jabez Foster, John Howell and John Penrose visited the offices of Remploy, Euston Road, London in connection with the inquiry into Contract Commissioning, in accordance with the Committee’s decision of 29 October.


Members present:


Miss Anne Begg John Howell Harry Cohen Mrs Joan Humble Michael Jabez Foster Greg Mulholand Mr Oliver Heald John Penrose

Contract Commissioning Ordered, That One Parent Families Gingerbread be authorised to publish its written evidence on Contract Commissioning in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order No. 135. Ordered, That the following written evidence relating to Contract Commissioning be reported to the House for publication on the internet: CS01 –CS25 inclusive. Disability equality The Committee noted that Caroline Gooding, Specialist Adviser, had declared her interests as:

Unpaid specialist adviser to RADAR – including representing them on the GEO group concerning the form that specific duties should take under a single duty.

Agreed to advise Lord Low in a paid capacity once the Single Equality Bill goes to the House of Lords.

Chair of Trade Union Disability Alliance – a campaigning group of disabled trade unionists.

and that Nigel Meager, Specialist Adviser, had declared his interests as: Working for the Institute for Employment Studies which is regularly contracted by DWP to provide independent research and evaluation services on employment and welfare-to-work topics, including research on disability matters.

Future business Resolved, That the Committee take oral evidence from the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on Wednesday 14 January on the economic downturn and its implications for welfare reform.

Resolved, That the Committee take oral evidence from the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development on Wednesday 14 January to discuss their most recent Labour Market Outlook report.

DWP IT Procurement Ordered, That the National Audit Office be authorised to publish its written evidence on DWP IT Procurement in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order No. 135.

Joe Harley, DWP IT Director General, Dean James, Corporate IT Chief Operating Officer, and Malcolm Whitehouse, Group Applications Director gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 10 December at 9.15 a.m.

House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee · John Penrose MP (Conservative, Weston-Super-Mare)...

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Transcript of House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee · John Penrose MP (Conservative, Weston-Super-Mare)...