Welfare Reform Bill

moved Amendment No. 32: 32: Clause 8 , page 6, line 17, at end insert— ““( ) provide for the presence of an intermediary in necessary cases;”” The noble Lord said: I start the afternoon in a happy frame of mind with a very brief series of amendments. In moving this amendment, I shall speak also to Amendments Nos. 44, 54, 64 and 71—I hope that I got that right this time; I obviously got it wrong towards the end of our previous sitting. These amendments are intended primarily to confirm what the Minister stated at Second Reading about having a supportive representative at assessments and interviews. I observe that a different Minister will respond to this amendment—and perhaps to the rest of Part 1; who can tell? I am glad that the Government intend to allow a claimant to bring someone along to support them at what could be a stressful and difficult time. There are practical advantages. A blind person who does not know how to read Braille might, for example, prefer to have someone they know rather than a stranger read for them. Similarly, those suffering mental disabilities or learning difficulties might be reassured by the presence of someone familiar. I am glad that the Government appreciate the benefits of having an intermediary and am interested to learn how, as the noble Lord, Lord McKenzie, stated, the Government intend to ““encourage”” representatives to attend. Do they also intend to continue allowing the presence of an intermediary at work-related interviews, or do they intend to restrict them to assessments only? I beg to move.