Legislative scrutiny

There are a number of concerns about the Welfare Reform Bill's compatibility with the requirements of human rights law and the fact that the Government has not provided Parliament with a full human rights memorandum with a detailed analysis. The Government also needs to better monitor the post-legislative impact of the measures in the Bill. The Committee is concerned that some of the proposals in the Bill may be implemented in a way which could both lead to a discriminatory impact and also not demonstrate a reasonable relationship of proportionality between the means employed and the legitimate aim that is sought to be realised. It considers that changes to welfare support designed to meet the right to social security and the right to an adequate standard of living should be supported by evidence and closely monitored after implementation. With regard to the housing benefit cap there is concern about the possible disparate impact on some disabled people and allowing additional discretion to exempt is recommended. The Committee is also not satisfied that there is reasonable justification for the negative impact of the introduction of Personal Independence Payments on the right of disabled people to independent living. The Bill should be amended to ensure that the assessment process for PIPs takes account of the various barriers experienced by disabled claimants and there should be a trial period for the new assessment process. The Secretary of State also needs to be required to make a statement to Parliament responding to the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission's annual report and there needs to be opportunity to debate that report and the Minister's statement in response