Lords Vote Down Welfare Reform Bill

12/01/2012

Government plans to reform the welfare system were dealt a blow on Wednesday when the House of Lords rejected the new bill.

The Lords took issue with key parts of the bill, including plans to restict access to employment and support allowance (ESA) payments for young disabled people and to means-test ESA after only a year. 

The Lords' vote saw the government defeated by 224 to 186.  The Bill was also voted down over plans to time-limit ESA for those undergoing cancer treatment.

The Right Support

Welfare minister, Lord Freud, argued that the one year limit was not arbitrary and was similar to limits enforced in France, Ireland and Spain.  He claimed the bill reached a “reasonable balance between the needs of sick, disabled people claiming benefit and those who have to contribute towards the cost.”

Unfair to Disabled People

However Baroness Meacher, an independent crossbencher, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Severely disabled young adults living with their parents would have no income of their own for the rest of their lives, to buy their parents presents, for example.

"We felt that was over the line."

Baroness Meacher added: "The British public do not accept the idea that the banks screw up and very disabled people pay the bill.”

The Bill will now be returned to the Commons where MPs will look at the amendments proposed by the Lords.