Welfare Reform Bill 2010-12: Commons Report Stage and Third Reading

The Commons Report Stage and Third Reading of the Welfare Reform Bill took place on 13 and 15 June. Amendments relating to the Universal Credit, housing support, the Social Fund and the Personal Independence Payment were debated, but other groups of amendments –including those on Employment and Support Allowance changes and the benefit cap – were not discussed as proceedings on each day reached the deadlines specified in the programme motion before they could be considered.

No Opposition or backbench amendments were agreed to. A number of Government amendments were agreed to; most were on technical matters but amendments also provide for the first versions of regulations in various areas to be made under powers in the Bill to be subject to the affirmative procedure.

The Bill received a Third Reading by 288 votes to 238. The Lords Second Reading debate was originally scheduled for 19 July, but was subsequently postponed to 13 September.