Welfare Reform Bill

I add my voice in support of the amendment, on which the noble Baroness, Lady Meacher, has expounded so excellently. I shall not go on at length. As a general psychiatrist, one is subjected to the often ongoing saga of someone attempting to get benefits and their constant failures to turn up at the right time, creating enormous frustration for those who are trying to provide care for them. The Bill has the potential to help enormous numbers of people with mental health problems to get back into work-related activities and work. For that reason, we broadly support it. However, for those with serious ongoing mental health problems, it is a big mistake to put this barrier—this conditionality—in the way of getting people into the system so that they can be reassured by it and feel confident so that they can gradually get back to work. I very much support the amendment tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Meacher.