tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post5122396860004828341..comments2024-03-28T09:16:33.241+00:00Comments on Diary of a Benefit Scrounger: Can you help Today with Research?Sue Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849801822216267250noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-69965655385210659712012-02-12T16:14:03.803+00:002012-02-12T16:14:03.803+00:00alias Adrian Wait... and there's more...Lord P...alias Adrian Wait... and there's more...Lord Patel addressing Lord Freud...<br /><br /><br />Lord Patel (Crossbench)<br />I thank the noble Lord for his response. I could pick up on each of the points that have been made and answer them, but the time does not allow that. I have to say to the noble Lord, Lord Blencathra, that we are talking here about the level of savings from welfare reform. We are not talking about the Government finding extra expenditure; it is the reduction in savings that we are talking about. The total reduction in saving of the whole welfare reform package will be in the region of £18 billion. We are talking here about not taking money away over five years even to the level of £1.3 billion from the most vulnerable in society. As I pointed out, they are those on the lowest third centile of income, to whom, as the noble Lord, Lord Wigley, said, it is £94 a week. If we are going to rob the poor to pay the rich, we are entering into a different form of morality. The noble Lord asked the question whether it is moral. I say that it is moral to look after those that are sick, vulnerable and poor. If that is immoral, what is moral is to pay the rich-and we are on a different planet altogether.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-91973348371090332432012-02-12T16:12:13.413+00:002012-02-12T16:12:13.413+00:00Lady Finlay
I come to the figures quoted. The fig...Lady Finlay <br />I come to the figures quoted. The figures are based on the assumption that no one goes back to work until they reach 24 hours. If you speak to cancer patients, you find out that their greatest desire is to go back to work, because it is part of therapy. Noble Lords should read the powerful article written by a very bold and courageous lady called Jenni Russell, which says:<br />"Not skiving, minister, just suffering cancer".<br />She describes what it felt like to have treatment for breast cancer. If you speak to patients on chemotherapy-and my noble friend Lady Finlay sees them every day-they feel good after four days of misery following chemotherapy. By the time they feel better it is time for another period of misery. The effect is cumulative to the point that after a few courses they cannot get out of bed and they wonder whether death might not be better than the disease. It is those people that we are talking about. They are not skivers or benefit cheats. They are the last people who cheat. Are we going to make savings there? I was honest in accepting that what I proposed was costly, but I am not going to be dishonest and say that therefore we should let those people suffer. I ask the House to determine who should be supported.<br />Amendment 38A<br />Moved by Lord Patel<br />38A: Clause 51, page 36, line 36, at end insert "except-<br />(a) where a person is receiving treatment for cancer when entitlement shall continue for so long as the person has (or is treated as having) limited capacity for work; or<br />(b) the person has (or is treated as having) limited capacity for work as a consequence of a cancer diagnosis."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-53509428916112299462012-02-11T21:49:11.558+00:002012-02-11T21:49:11.558+00:00Payments are backdated but you are looking at 18 m...Payments are backdated but you are looking at 18 months on average the main problem you can face like i have been is where you can go round and round in a loop which can drive you mad so you end up in hospital <br />you need to be on your guard for that DWP trickAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-66120657178628249482012-02-11T19:02:27.313+00:002012-02-11T19:02:27.313+00:00AnonymousFeb 10, 2012 01:09 PM
Thank you so much ...AnonymousFeb 10, 2012 01:09 PM<br /><br />Thank you so much for bringing this forward. I for one didn't know the consultation had been launched.<br /><br />At the moment full rate money continues while revision is undertaken as the decision has not been made. <br /><br />Once an appeal is lodged I think payments are at assessment rate? Even though full payments are backdated on successful appeal that's a very long time on much less money. This will be a real problem if the rumours that benefits will be stopped while appealing become reality but I've not seen any evidence of anything other than rumours of this yet.<br /><br />The consultation doesn't mention payments while under revision/appeal. Does anyone know if they are regulated for ESA/DLA appeals?<br /><br />Sue - really sorry this is off topic!Sirenitynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-36452786127480464562012-02-11T14:37:50.894+00:002012-02-11T14:37:50.894+00:00@Anonymous - yes, you are writing sense and I am b...@Anonymous - yes, you are writing sense and I am being emotional.<br /><br />All I can think of is to intensify our level of complaint and keep banging the drum.Avenging_Angelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-36439250166423803182012-02-11T08:04:51.561+00:002012-02-11T08:04:51.561+00:00Well after allowing for the public showing their d...Well after allowing for the public showing their distrust/disgust at the Lib Dems and how they have beved as part of the coalition, they will probably lose out because of the new carve up of bounderies anyhow. <br /><br />This that really once again leaves the UK voters to choose between Labour and Conservatives again. But again its said that these changes will favour the Tories so it doesn't leave much hope politically that things will change any time soon.<br /><br />And we can only imagine if things were to change how difficult it will be to reverse any of the new welfare changes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-24712626623326286762012-02-11T03:28:01.741+00:002012-02-11T03:28:01.741+00:00I'm not Spartacus - found out recently that I ...I'm not Spartacus - found out recently that I have actually been Auticus for decades.<br /><br />The WCA test is meant to find out what I CAN do? Do they really want to know?<br /><br />I can and will bite the hand that feeds me (NiN), and hopefully after that my capabilities can be turned to becoming one of thousands of pin pricks that will destroy the political careers of those responsible for what has gone on.Avenging_Angelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-46412606210873854392012-02-10T22:30:07.196+00:002012-02-10T22:30:07.196+00:00•*´¨`*•.¸¸.•*´¨`*•.¸¸.•*´¨`*•.¸¸.•*´¨`*•.¸¸.•
::: ...•*´¨`*•.¸¸.•*´¨`*•.¸¸.•*´¨`*•.¸¸.•*´¨`*•.¸¸.•<br />::: (\_(\ ...*...*...*...*...*...*...*...*...::::::::::::::<br />*: (=' :') :: Financial privilege appears to be rampant <br />•..(,('')('')¤...*...*...*...*...*...*...*...*...:::::::::::<br />¸.•*´¨`*•.¸¸.•*´¨`*•.¸¸.•*´¨`*•.¸¸.•*´¨`*•.¸Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-47449390775095631302012-02-10T21:20:51.838+00:002012-02-10T21:20:51.838+00:00And this from the time when i worked at the bank o...And this from the time when i worked at the bank of England from Harold wilson<br /><br />Forty years on, I well remember Harold Wilson telling me in the 1970s that there was no cause for me to worry about cuts in help for disabled people when the economy was under such daunting stress and the IMF became involved. He said that his policy would be that "the broadest backs must bear the biggest burden", and he assured me that since my role was to help people with broken backs, among other severe disabilities, he would go on giving it high priority, and he was as good as his word.<br /><br />as i have said before when i was at the bank i was active in helping the sick and disabled my mother was also in our spare time.<br /><br /> i thou with a help of friend were looking after a sick person from the age of 10 on our way and coming home from school so if anyone should lay a claim in the helping of others at the level that shows and for free i may add then it should be me<br /><br /> so i would say to lord fraud your in the wrong job mate for many reasons and then go on to say to him in the words of lord sugar "your fired"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-76165864554561923962012-02-10T21:09:28.376+00:002012-02-10T21:09:28.376+00:00Saw this on a benefits forum which troubles me a g...Saw this on a benefits forum which troubles me a great deal.... <br /><br /><b>Consultation - Mandatory review before appeal. Concerns about all claimants but particular concern for ESA claimants.</b><br /><br />"The government is seeking to make it mandatory for a claimant to request a revision before requesting an appeal. Quite why, I don't know as it is an integral part of the appeal process for them to reconsider decisions before sending them to tribunal anyway. My main concern is ESA. Currently, a claimant can receive ESA at the assessment rate pending the outcome of a submitted appeal. There is nothing which allows this pending review, nothing mentioned about it in the consultation, and there will be no time limit imposed on reviews. Potentially, a claimant who is unfit for work thus has no other means to support themselves could be without funds for an unspecified period of time. I would urge as many people as possible to raise this concern. You can read and respond to the consultation here."<br /><br />http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/mandatory-consideration-consultation.pdf<br /><br />This would be the last nail in the coffin for those on ESA. I bege Sue and others on here to write and try and make your voices heard.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-89577111113750039002012-02-10T20:44:59.265+00:002012-02-10T20:44:59.265+00:00Your welcome :)
on a side note i have been e maili...Your welcome :)<br />on a side note i have been e mailing The Baroness Campbell of Surbiton DBE and we will stay in touch she is disabled and has sent me a very nice reply so am grateful for that and she has vowed to do her best in what for like us are very difficult circumstancesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-23905362724625828512012-02-10T18:01:32.448+00:002012-02-10T18:01:32.448+00:00I should add I think it strange how if the main pa...I should add I think it strange how if the main parties dislike the House Of Lords, they are always ready to fiddle the rules so they get their own way(like adding more members)to get their plans passed. If they nearly always succeed in getting what they wish, why are they so bothered about changing the Lords or trying to abolish it.<br /><br />Besides, I thought that both Houses had a set amount of members and you could only add more as the existing ones resign or pass away.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-27425187469305734722012-02-10T14:51:04.659+00:002012-02-10T14:51:04.659+00:00Thanks Jan2 for the additional information...It wa...Thanks Jan2 for the additional information...It was all so sudden, you kind of expect a parent to go before you and yes, she is elderly I guess but she has been so "Robust" and in recent times survived bad fall down the stairs and a hip replacement. So to suddenly be presented with "Bowel" cancer(with little or no symptoms)was something we could do without. <br /><br />They have only offered palative care(so far no time limit been mentioned)and they say/hope it will remain localised and not spread. Mixed blessings(they say she'll probably go of old age/natural causes before it gets her)<br /><br />And I guess we know times will become more difficult. There is some dementia too...But every family has their troubles.<br /><br />She survived Radio Therapy(helped a little)but no other treatment is being offered. But I digress...<br /><br />Syzygy, It doesn't surprise me about adding more Peers to the Lords. It was said sometime ago that the Conservatives added more than the other parties already and these are the parties who have supposedly been trying to change or abolish the Lords or have been theatening to do so for decades.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-51506595020161465082012-02-10T14:30:56.415+00:002012-02-10T14:30:56.415+00:00David Owen was speaking in very strong terms on th...David Owen was speaking in very strong terms on the Daily Politics (Wed) about the fact that the Government has 'pre-empted' legislation, against conventional protocols and it should be investigated.Syzygyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15033334461020443772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-44791829310874141932012-02-10T14:26:55.289+00:002012-02-10T14:26:55.289+00:00I don't know if anyone has mentioned the gossi...I don't know if anyone has mentioned the gossip reported by Lady Royal that there is a plan to add another 60 Tory peers, 20+ LD peers and 5 Labour peers to the Lords to ensure no more embarrassing government defeats by Labour and cross bench peers.Syzygyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15033334461020443772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-26526705246493382322012-02-10T13:08:25.799+00:002012-02-10T13:08:25.799+00:00@anonymous 3.20am
I am so sorry to hear of your c...@anonymous 3.20am<br /><br />I am so sorry to hear of your circumstances.<br /><br />Very few people seem to know about the Severe Disability Premium, as little protest has been made about its demise, which I think is a shame. Most of those on it don't know its going and those not on it don't seem to care much.<br /><br />If I were you, I would still apply for it though. It will still be around until the Universal Credit comes in, which is not until 2013. Even then I can't see that happening straight away as the computer systems are said to be nowhere near ready as they have to combine the DWP with HMRC for U Credit to work.<br />It is currently £53.60 per week. It is intended for those on Middle or High rate Care DLA who live alone and no one gets carers allowance for you. It makes up for a bit of extra care costs for things that people who have someone living with them would do for you.<br />It should remain until you are transferred to PIP, which also may not happen straight away, given the buggers mudddle that is happening with Atos at the moment. They are months behind in processing even new claims, so how they can test all those on IB and keep retesting, plus all the new people who enter the system every year AND then start restesting everyone on DLA, seems like a system in meltdown to me (GOOD!)Transferring those on DLA is expected to take 3 years. So you could get it for a good while before you change over to PIP. So could help with care if you need it or perhaps a bit of savings as a buffer against what is to come, or help make up your rent for a bit ,so you can stay where you are. Not sure what the position is while/if you get carer's allowance for your poor Mum but the advisor can tell you.<br />If you are eligible claim it! I wish you all the best at such a sad time but remember, we are not beaten yet!jan2noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-49119019788568008492012-02-10T13:06:48.185+00:002012-02-10T13:06:48.185+00:00Thanks Fourbanks,
Glad you could follow my post ev...Thanks Fourbanks,<br />Glad you could follow my post even with errors I missed in the text.<br /><br />I am sure that as you suggest the retirement age will be put back further and many of us with health problems(conditions that vary from day to day)will "have" to work because there is no choice, we will probably never ever become officially "retired" because we'll have passed away before then. <br /><br />For some, being "forced" into work we could find our conditions will become worse. <br /><br />Even today on the news there is talk that some official or an organisation that is known as a think tank says that pensioners should consider going back to work to avoid lonliness(not because of financially reasons)many have no choice and many do(and it should be a person's choice)continue to be involved with the community as a volunteer, its another excuse to get people working.<br /><br />Also, where are all the jobs anyhow? Even those who are young or fit are having difficulty finding work and if you do, is it one you can manage physically or survive on financially?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-19680250174775189192012-02-10T12:06:05.769+00:002012-02-10T12:06:05.769+00:00[quote]Anonymous has left a new comment on the pos...[quote]Anonymous has left a new comment on the post "Can you help Today with Research?": <br /><br /> Apologies if this has been posted before and this is not the right place to mention this but this appeared in the London EveninStandardtd a few days ago and is one of the best articles to appear in the media(the press especially)about what is happening to the disabled and welfare benefit changes in general and comes on the back of the recent report about "Hate Crimes" published by Scope.<br /><br />Good to see this columnist also blaming the media...<br /><br />http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-24033624-disabled-are-at-the-mercy-of-ministers-and-media.do<br /><br />Severe Disability Premium...I'd never heard of that until I was seen by a DWP representative who has made me appointee to my dying mother's affairs and told me to apply...seems pointless as its being abolished. And with the DLA going the same way and myself probably not fitting the criteria for ESA/PIP the future does not look very good. <br /><br />I may survive to some extent whilst Mum is here with the help she is entitled and myself might as a carer if I can get financialt fiancial help to replace what little I get already but when she passes away...<br /><br />I have no idea if I'll have a roof over my head or if I continue to where they'll relocate me or what I'll be offered instead of where I have lived for 52+ years.<br /><br />Circumstances meant I was unable to buy the house, if only I had been able to...If only I was retired now but should I live(even with my health problems)they can as things stand keep extending the age that you retire but at present they can get another 14 years out of me and have me worry for that time too.<br /><br />Its frightening![/quote]<br /><br />Your storey is very upsetting and it is much regret that I'm not the prime minister to guide and help you <br />I'm hearing that the old age retirement will go up to 75 in five years time and then to 80 five years after that that would be in keeping with David Cameron's way of thinking <br /><br />not shop till you drop but work till you dropAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-64035421763811605802012-02-10T11:20:39.177+00:002012-02-10T11:20:39.177+00:00Apologies if this has been posted before and this ...Apologies if this has been posted before and this is not the right place to mention this but this appeared in the London Evening Standatd a few days ago and is one of the best articles to appear in the media(the press especially)about what is happening to the disabled and welfare benefit changes in general and comes on the back of the recent report about "Hate Crimes" published by Scope.<br /><br />Good to see this columnist also blaming the media...<br /><br />http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-24033624-disabled-are-at-the-mercy-of-ministers-and-media.do<br /><br />Severe Disability Premium...I'd never heard of that until I was seen by a DWP representative who has made me appointee to my dying mother's affairs and told me to apply...seems pointless as its being abolished. And with the DLA going the same way and myself probably not fitting the criteria for ESA/PIP the future does not look very good. <br /><br />I may survive to some extent whilst Mum is here with the help she is entitled and myself might as a carer if I can get different fiancial help to replace what little I get already but when she passes away...<br /><br />I have no idea if I'll have a roof over my head or if I continue to where they'll relocate me or what I'll be offered instead of where I have lived for 52+ years.<br /><br />Circumstances meant I was unable to buy the house, if only I had been able to...If only I was retired now but should I live(even with my health problems)they can as things stand keep extending the age that you retire but at present they can get another 14 years out of me and have me worry for that time too.<br /><br />Its frightening!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-84764621138971144072012-02-09T23:46:47.067+00:002012-02-09T23:46:47.067+00:00Baroness Meacher on the abolition of the Severe Di...Baroness Meacher on the abolition of the Severe Disability Premium for those who live alone or only have a child carer<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />"The severe disability premium, which the Bill abolishes, aims to meet the extra costs experienced by disabled people living alone and is currently worth £53.65 per week for a single person. It helps people who are on a low income, whether in or out of work, who have a severe level of disability and who have no one living with them who can help them. It is well recognised that people in this position face much higher costs than other disabled people with a comparable disability.<br /><br /><br /><br />14 Dec 2011 : Column 1363<br /><br /><br />I recognise that the Government plan to abolish the severe disability premium, but that plan is not designed to save money. The Government will instead transfer the money to fund an enhancement of the support group benefits. I understand, having just had a brief conversation with the Minister, that the increase will be something in the order of £44. However, the loss of the SDP will also apply to people who live alone and who move into the support group after these changes occur, so this very disadvantaged group will in fact lose out-although by something in the order of £8 a week, as I understand it. The support group people will lose the £53.65 per week, minus the uplift to support group benefits in the order of £44.<br /><br />The reason why the transfer of funds from the severe disability premium to the support group might not be fair and efficient is that the costs of disability do not correlate well with the level of impairment, which is what will determine whether a person qualifies for the support group. The recent Demos/Scope report, Counting the Cost, based on a survey of 845 disabled people, found little correlation between the costs of disability for an individual and their level of impairment.".........<br /><br />"Going to work costs money, of course, particularly for disabled people who might not be able to use public transport alone, for example. Under the current system, a severely visually impaired person living on their own and earning £100 a week will have a disposable income of £188 per week, after housing costs have been paid, plus their disability allowance. Under universal credit the same person will, as I understand it, be little better off than someone without an impairment. That must apply to those who do not actually make the support group assessment. If you are assessed as not having a sufficient impairment to justify the support group benefit, obviously you are in a very different situation."<br /><br />http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201011/ldhansrd/text/111214-0002.htmjan2noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-88118345786693315392012-02-09T22:58:23.668+00:002012-02-09T22:58:23.668+00:00Lord Fowler Conservative) on concerns the social f...Lord Fowler Conservative) on concerns the social fund will not be ring fenced and could be siphoned off for general use by local authorities.<br /><br />"It is not altogether surprising that I have a lot of sympathy with the view taken on the Social Fund. I think it is common ground that we need a system for dealing with emergency payments of one kind or another. I think it is also common ground that some of the 67,000 families who will be affected by the cap will need such help. I think that is common ground all round.<br /><br />As regards the mechanism, I have to say that I still rather support the Social Fund. That is not surprising as my noble friend Lord Newton and I invented it in the first place. It did have, and does have, a number of advantages. The department has experience of how such a scheme works and has local offices with local knowledge which are, however, kept within a national programme with a national budget. Therefore, I should have thought that from the Government's point of view as well as from the claimant's point of view it had substantial advantages. There is a risk that different local authorities will pursue different policies with regard to it..........<br /><br />If money is to be made available to local authorities for what I shall call Social Fund purposes, we must do everything that we can to ensure that that money reaches the proper destination-otherwise the exercise is all slightly pointless."<br /><br /><br />We have seen in the health service where this has not happened. Money intended by the previous Government for prevention of ill-health was siphoned off and used for other more general purposes. Whether my noble friend accepts this amendment -it seems unlikely that he will accept it-the House will wish to be assured that we have some way of checking that the money reaches its proper destination. That seems to me to be the crucial point and that is the assurance that the House seeks.<br /><br />25thJan COL 1068<br /><br />http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201212/ldhansrd/text/120125-0001.htm#12012534000324Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-41607006852760602712012-02-09T21:02:06.113+00:002012-02-09T21:02:06.113+00:00Baroness Hollis of Heigham: My Lords, I will be ve...Baroness Hollis of Heigham: My Lords, I will be very brief, but I cannot resist the effrontery of trying to challenge some of the assumptions made by two people whose views on social security I very much respect, the noble Lords, Lord Fowler and Lord Newton.<br /><br />The noble Lord, Lord Fowler, said that the social security bill is pushing £200 billion and needs to be contained and cut. He is correct, but the biggest single group driving that increase in costs are of course pensioners. There is an increased number of pensioners, who are living longer, sometimes with poor health. These cuts do not-in my view, rightly-impinge on them at all. We are making other people pay for the demographics that are not their fault.<br /><br />The second point I would like to address comes from the noble Lord, Lord Newton. He says that there is a big prize in this: universal credit. He is absolutely right. I defer to nobody in my support for universal credit and my support for the Minister on the structure of universal credit. However, that structure is being contaminated by where some of the cuts fall. If we can keep those two things separate in our minds, we can<br /><br />23 Jan 2012 : Column 821<br /><br />fully the support the Minister on his structure, as we do, while trying to protect those who are most vulnerable and affected by where the cuts fall.<br /><br />At the end of the day, it is about political and moral choices. Noble Lords, including the noble Lord, Lord Hamilton of Epsom, said that we face a deficit and must bring it down-these cuts have to fall. May I gently suggest to him that I rather doubt that any of the cuts have affected him? Not one of them has affected me. Indeed, my council tax is being frozen at a cost of nearly £1 billion a year, which is very nice. Over five years, that equates to the very £5 billion that the noble Lord, Lord Fowler, cited. I get my council tax frozen while disabled children, cancer patients and vulnerable children at risk of homelessness carry my bills for me, even though we in this House have broader shoulders on which to carry the cost. It is about choices and the choice of every Member in this House today. I hope they will make a choice that most of us would regard as the decent one.cathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-28416232206730025772012-02-09T20:53:26.354+00:002012-02-09T20:53:26.354+00:00Former Tory cabinet minister Lord Mackay of Clashf...Former Tory cabinet minister Lord Mackay of Clashfern, who led the biggest Lords rebellion, said it was a "waste of taxpayers' money at a time of considerable austerity" for peers to pass amendments that were subsequently rejected out of hand.<br /><br />The government suffered seven defeats on the Welfare Reform bill and MPs are today reversing the setbacks.<br /><br />Although "financial privilege" is signified by the Speaker, MPs can waive their rights over financial matters and either accept a Lords amendment with cost implications or vote in favour of a compromise.<br /><br />Lord Hunt of Kings Heath, the deputy leader of Labour peers, said: "The point is whether it is wise for the government to use this process. Essentially it is hiding behind parliamentary procedure to curtail consideration of the amendments that we passed in this House on the Welfare Reform Bill.<br /><br />"If the government continues to do this on these bills, our role as a revising chamber is effectively undermined."<br /><br />Labour former work and pensions minister Baroness Hollis of Heigham said: "If it is the case that any bill, involving any element of expenditure, including welfare, including pensions, including health, including education can, at the fiat at the House of Commons, be ruled money and therefore privilege... then this will become a very part-time House indeed because we might as well go home."<br /><br />Lord Mackay, a former lord chancellor who last week led the rebellion that saw the Government defeated by 142 votes on the issue of charging parents to access the Child Support Agency, said it seemed "somewhat of a waste of time if we debate provisions that turn out to be completely sacrosanct because of the decision on privilege made in the Commons".FibromitesUnitenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-59021481803675084242012-02-09T20:39:47.895+00:002012-02-09T20:39:47.895+00:00just found this link on twitter... is there still ...just found this link on twitter... is there still a glimmer of hope?<br /><br />http://www.politics.co.uk/blogs/2012/02/09/it-s-not-necessarily-game-over-for-welfare-reform-resistancecathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-16377814379262443882012-02-09T17:50:04.811+00:002012-02-09T17:50:04.811+00:00Do one back to bedfordshire you dickDo one back to bedfordshire you dickAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com