Welfare Reform Bill

This amendment refers back to points I made on the first day—as the noble Baroness has said—indeed, on the first amendment. I hope the Committee will forgive me if I reiterate some of those questions on which, on reading Hansard, I feel that the Minister could expand. The amendment makes clear that the continuation of benefits, such as an exemption from prescription charges, can make a very large difference to some people. Other passported benefits of a similar nature include the right to free school meals, free eye and teeth inspections and so on. On our first day, I understood the noble Lord, Lord McKenzie, to confirm at col. GC 5 that these passported benefits will continue for those on income-related ESA, as the noble Baroness has said. Will the Minister answer my question as to whether these benefits will be included in the 13-week assessment phase, or whether they will be paid only after eligibility has been fully assessed. I agree with the noble Baroness, Lady Thomas of Winchester, that once you are on ESA it really does not matter whether you arrived by the route of the income assessment or by the contribution assessment. You are in exactly the same position and are likely to be just as poor. Therefore, if it is right for one strand to have these passported benefits and not the other, the Minister must be able to produce a very good reason for not treating them in the same way. The noble Baroness, Lady Thomas, talked about the low income scheme for prescriptions, which exists for those who are not entitled to passported free ones. That scheme is not widely known about. Has the department considered advising people of its existence when they receive their first benefit cheque?